Batch processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

There are provided a batch processing apparatus and a batch processing method capable of significantly reducing the burden on a system designer, a system administrator, and an operator operating the system as well as significantly reducing the development cost. The batch processing apparatus acquires from a repository the metadata defined as information on at least data item name, input, processing content, and output, as well as information stored and registered in advance in the predetermined repository, inputs input data according to a declaration process of the acquired metadata, creates output data by processing the input data, and outputs the output data. Herein, the batch processing apparatus creates the output data by changing all the output data related to the metadata according to change of the metadata.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a batch processing apparatus, a batchprocessing method, a batch processing program, and a batch processingsystem for creating desired output data based on arbitrary input data.

BACKGROUND ART

Various types of information-processing systems using informationprocessors have been developed in association with recent widespread useand greater sophistication of information processors such as personalcomputers and the like. There has been provided a system for performinga so-called batch process, as one of those information-processingsystems.

The batch process is generally such a processing model that createsdesired output data by automatically sequentially processing input datadefined as a source, on the condition that a series of procedural stepsis preliminarily designed for operation composed of one or moreprocesses, and is effective in collecting and processing a large amountof data, in such cases as performing tabulation processes on sales dataat companies, for example. One or more processes are required to executethis batch process, in which each process is executed in accordance withinput information, processing operation contents, and output informationdescribed in a program for carrying out each process. To construct theinformation-processing system for performing the batch process,therefore, the input and output data in each process are specified intheir formats or the like to design the processing operation contentsbetween the input and output data on the condition that a process flowis designed with consideration to the interrelationship betweenrespective processes. In order to construct the information-processingsystem for performing the batch process a program is to be developedthat achieves the function of actualizing the processing operationcontents.

There has been provided the information-processing system for performingthe aforementioned batch process, which automatically creates a programfor executing a predetermined processing operation using a so-calledStructured Query Language (SQL) or the like on the condition that theprocess flow is designed to specify the input and output data of eachprocess.

There has also been provided the information-processing system, whichcreates a program for wider variety of uses by inputting externalparameters as constant information to be included in a part of theprogram in order to construct a process for a wide variety ofapplications.

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-60150), PatentDocument 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-175327), and the like areinstantiated as specific examples of the information-processing system.

In addition, there have been such cases in which using theaforementioned conventional information-processing system for executingthe predetermined processing operation has resulted in the inability tocreate a program for fulfilling the function of the processing operationcontents due to limitation of the processing operation contents executedby the single process. The conventional information-processing system asdescribed above may occasionally require the processing operation beperformed through many processes so as to fulfill the function forexecuting the processing operation contents, whereby intermediate datatransferred in the single process or between the processes increase inthis case, thereby leading to problems such as an increase ofdevelopment cost, system risk after development, and processing time.Therefore, the fact is that the conventional information-processingsystem necessitates development of a program specialized for individualapplications.

The external parameter is individually assigned to each single processin the aforementioned conventional information-processing system inwhich the external parameters are input as constant information to beincluded in a part of the program. Thus, in the case of a change of dataitems, processing operation contents, and the like in this type ofconventional information-processing system, the changes are nottransmitted to all of the related processes, thereby not automaticallychanging all of the output data.

As described above, the conventional information-processing systemrequires development of a program specialized for individualapplications, and all of the output data are not automatically changedaccording to change of the data item, the processing operation contents,and the like.

Furthermore, such problems as described below have arisen in performingthe batch process as the information-processing system becomes bloatedin scale and complicated in an information society over recent years.

The first problem is that an appropriate design principle for a processflow is not formulated to lead the process flow and the output and inputdata to become larger and more complicated, in other words, to lead toprocess and data jumbles.

The second problem is that an information processor is required, whichhas a large capacity and high speed, to use a method for intermediatelycreating direct product data.

Furthermore, the third problem is that a large number of similar itemsand synonymous items occur in association with the increase of the dataitems to be handled, thereby making it difficult to make a determinationas to which data to use for which processes.

Yet further, the fourth problem is that these factors result in aremarkable increase of the burden on a system designer, a systemadministrator, and an operator operating the system, at the time whenthe program is increased or changed.

In performing the batch process, there has been apprehension that theseproblems are responsible for a noticeable increase in the developmentand maintenance costs as well as degradation of quality.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention is accomplished in consideration of the above situation,and it is an object of the invention to provide a batch processingapparatus, a batch processing method, a batch processing program, and abatch processing system cable of creating desired output data based onarbitrary input data, with low cost and uncomplicated work.

According to this invention for achieving the aforementioned objects, abatch processing apparatus for creating desired output data based onarbitrary input data includes a metadata acquisition section foracquiring from a predetermined memorizing section, metadata defined asinformation concerning at least data item name, input, processingoperation content, and output, as well as information previously storedin the memorizing section, a data input section for inputting the inputdata based on a declaration process of the metadata acquired through themetadata acquisition section, a processing section for creating theoutput data by processing the input data input through the data inputsection, based on the declaration process of the metadata acquiredthrough the metadata acquisition section, and a data output section foroutputting the output data created by the processing section, based onthe declaration process of the metadata acquired through the metadataacquisition section, wherein the processing section changes and createsall of the output data related to the metadata, according to change ofthe metadata.

According to this invention for achieving the aforementioned objects, abatch processing method for creating desired output data based onarbitrary input data includes a metadata acquisition step for acquiringfrom a predetermined memorizing section, metadata defined as informationconcerning at least data item name, input, a processing operationcontent, and output, as well as information previously stored in thememorizing section, a data input step for inputting the input data basedon a declaration process of the metadata acquired at the metadataacquisition step, a processing step for creating the output data byprocessing the input data input at the data input step, based on thedeclaration process of the metadata acquired at the metadata acquisitionstep, and a data output step for outputting the output data created atthe processing step, based on the declaration process of the metadataacquired at the metadata acquisition step, wherein all of the outputdata related to the metadata are changed and created according to changeof the metadata at the processing step.

According to this invention for achieving the aforementioned objects, abatch processing program executable with a computer, for creatingdesired output data based on arbitrary input data includes a metadataacquisition process for acquiring from a predetermined memorizingsection, metadata defined as information concerning at least data itemname, input, a processing operation content, and output, as well asinformation previously stored in the memorizing section, a data inputprocess for inputting the input data based on a declaration process ofthe metadata acquired in the metadata acquisition process, a processingprocess for creating the output data by processing the input data inputin the data input process, based on the declaration process of themetadata acquired in the metadata acquisition process, and a data outputprocess for outputting the output data created in the processingprocess, based on the declaration process of the metadata acquired inthe metadata acquisition process, wherein all of the output data relatedto the metadata are changed and created according to change of themetadata in the processing process.

According to this invention, a batch processing system for creatingdesired output data based on arbitrary input data includes a memorizingdevice for previously memorizing and registering metadata defined asinformation concerning at least data item name, input, a processingoperation content, and output, a first operating device for creating themetadata based on a predetermined specification, registering the createdmetadata in the memorizing device, a processing device for acquiring themetadata from the memorizing device, inputting the input data based on adeclaration process of the acquired metadata, creating the output databy processing the input data already input, and outputting the outputdata, and a second operating device for giving at least a startinstruction of a batch process to the processing apparatus, wherein theprocessing apparatus changes and creates the output data related to themetadata according to change of the metadata.

The batch processing apparatus according to this invention, the batchprocessing method, and the batch processing system respectively createsby changing all of output data related to metadata according to changeof the metadata, based on a declaration process of the metadata asinformation previously registered, at the time of creating the outputdata by processing input data. Accordingly, each of the batch processingapparatus, the batch processing program, and the batch processing systemcan remarkably reduce a burden on a system designer, a systemadministrator, and an operator operating the system as well asdevelopment cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating metadata to be registered in a batchprocessing apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the batchprocessing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a specific hardware structure ofthe batch processing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an operationprocessing unit mounted in the batch processing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of summary data;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of specific data;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a process flow and a structure of theoperation processing unit in the batch processing apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of the process flow in thebatch processing apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a structure of a summary operationprocessing unit installed in the operation processing unit and contentsof metadata;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a sequence of steps at the time that thesummary operation processing unit performs a summary operation process;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a structure of a specific operationprocessing unit installed in the operation processing unit and contentsof metadata;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a sequence of steps at the time that thespecific operation processing unit performs a specific operationprocess;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a structure of a group operationprocessing unit installed in the operation processing unit and contentsof metadata;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a sequence of steps at the time that thegroup operation processing unit performs a group operation process;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a structure of a time-series operationprocessing unit installed in the operation processing unit and contentsof metadata;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a sequence of steps at the time that thetime-series operation processing unit performs a time-series operationprocess;

FIG. 17A is a view showing a specification example of input data, i.e.,showing contents of a branch office table;

FIG. 17B is a view showing a specification example of input data, i.e.,showing contents of a customer table;

FIG. 17C is a view showing a specification example of input data, i.e.,showing contents of a transaction table;

FIG. 18 is a view showing a specification example of a first user'sview;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a specification example of a second user'sview;

FIG. 20 is a view showing a specification example of an industrialclassification code;

FIG. 21 is a view showing a specification example of an area code;

FIG. 22 is a view showing a specification example of a product code;

FIG. 23 is a view showing a specification example of a transaction code;

FIG. 24 is a view showing a specification example of a company sizecode;

FIG. 25 is a view showing a specification example of a money amounthierarchy code;

FIG. 26 is a view showing a specification example of a branch officetable for display of parent-child data;

FIG. 27A is a view showing a specific example of data dictionarymetadata as metadata identifying data item name, i.e., showing contentsof general attribute information;

FIG. 27B is a view showing a specific example of data dictionarymetadata as metadata identifying data item name, i.e., showing contentsof classifying attribute information;

FIG. 27C is a view showing a specific example of data dictionarymetadata as metadata identifying data item name, i.e., showing contentsof category information;

FIG. 27D is a view showing a specific example of data dictionarymetadata as metadata identifying data item name, i.e., showing contentsof a category hierarchy information;

FIG. 28A is a view showing a specific example of input and outputinformation metadata as metadata identifying input and output, i.e.,showing contents of a file list;

FIG. 28B is a view showing a specific example of input and outputinformation metadata as metadata identifying input and output, i.e.,showing contents of a schema about a file;

FIG. 28C is a view showing a specific example of input and outputinformation metadata as metadata identifying input and output, i.e.,showing contents of a management unit;

FIG. 28D is a view showing a specific example of input and outputinformation metadata as metadata identifying input and output, i.e.,showing contents of a list of files used in each process;

FIG. 28E is a view showing a specific example of input and outputinformation metadata as metadata identifying input and output, i.e.,showing contents of a relation list of files used in each process;

FIG. 29A is a view showing a specific example of user's view informationmetadata as metadata identifying a user's view intended to be output,i.e., showing contents of names of the user's view;

FIG. 29B is a view showing a specific example of user's view informationmetadata as metadata identifying a user's view intended to be output,i.e., showing contents of heading items of the user's view;

FIG. 29C is a view showing a specific example of user's view informationmetadata as metadata identifying a user's view intended to be output,i.e., showing contents of row items of the user's view;

FIG. 29D is a view showing a specific example of user's view informationmetadata as metadata identifying a user's view intended to be output,i.e., showing contents of column items of the user's view;

FIG. 30A is a view showing a specific example of extraction conditionmetadata, code conversion metadata, and derivation operation metadata asmetadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e., showingcontents of the extraction condition metadata;

FIG. 30B is a view showing a specific example of extraction conditionmetadata, code conversion metadata, and derivation operation metadata asmetadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e., showingcontents of the code conversion metadata;

FIG. 30C is a view showing a specific example of extraction conditionmetadata, code conversion metadata, and derivation operation metadata asmetadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e., showingcontents of the derivation operation metadata;

FIG. 31 is a view showing a specific example of group operation metadatacorresponding to a classified display as metadata identifying processingoperation contents;

FIG. 32A is a view showing a specification example of input datadifferent from the input data shown in FIG. 17A through FIG. 17C, andoutput data different from the output data shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19,i.e., showing contents of a customer table;

FIG. 32B is a view showing a specification example of input datadifferent from the input data shown in FIG. 17A to FIG. 17C, and outputdata different from the output data shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, i.e.,showing contents of a group representative customer table;

FIG. 32C is a view showing a specification example of input datadifferent from the input data shown in FIG. 17A through FIG. 17C, andoutput data different from the output data shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19,i.e., showing contents of output data;

FIG. 33 is a view showing a specific example of group operation metadatacorresponding to a parent-child relationship as metadata identifyingprocessing operation contents;

FIG. 34A is a view showing a specific example of time series operationmetadata as metadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e.,showing contents of past data acquisition information;

FIG. 34B is a view showing a specific example of time series operationmetadata as metadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e.,showing contents of comparison value operation information;

FIG. 34C is a view showing a specific example of time series operationmetadata as metadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e.,showing contents of past data correction information;

FIG. 34D is a view showing a specific example of time series operationmetadata as metadata identifying processing operation contents, i.e.,showing contents of time-series holding period information;

FIG. 35A is a view showing a specific example of metadata created basedon various metadata shown in FIG. 28A through FIG. 28E, FIG. 29A throughFIG. 29D, FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, FIG. 31, and FIG. 34A through FIG.34D, i.e., showing contents of interface metadata;

FIG. 35B is a view showing a specific example of metadata created basedon various metadata shown in FIG. 28A through FIG. 28E, FIG. 29A throughFIG. 29D, FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, FIG. 31, and FIG. 34A through FIG.34D, i.e., showing contents of calculation area metadata indicative ofclass attribute information of a calculation buffer;

FIG. 36A is a view showing a specific example of metadata created basedon various metadata shown in FIG. 28A through FIG. 28E, FIG. 29A throughFIG. 29D, FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, FIG. 31, and FIG. 34A through FIG.34D, i.e., showing contents of calculation area metadata indicative ofvalue item information;

FIG. 36B is a view showing a specific example of metadata created basedon various metadata shown in FIG. 28A through FIG. 28E, FIG. 29A throughFIG. 29D, FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, FIG. 31, and FIG. 34A through FIG.34D, i.e., showing contents of data structure transformation metadata;

FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a process flow in accordance with aspecification shown in FIG. 17A through FIG. 26;

FIG. 38 is a view showing a specific example of a first intermediatetable;

FIG. 39 is a view showing a specific example of a second intermediatetable;

FIG. 40 is a view showing a specific example of a first output table asoutput data; and

FIG. 41 is a view showing a specific example of a second output table asoutput data.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, specified embodiments towhich the present invention is applied are described in detail.

The embodiments are about a batch processing apparatus for creatingdesired output data based on arbitrary input data. In this batchprocessing apparatus, a batch process is performed in accordance with ametadata declaration on the condition that at least informationconcerning “data item name”, “input”, “processing operation contents”,and “output” is previously registered as metadata in a predeterminedrepository, and the output data are created by processing the input databased on a declaration process of the registered metadata.

Especially, the batch processing apparatus establishes a process forautomatically changing all of the output data related to the metadataaccording to the change of the metadata while establishing anon-programming method based on the declaration process of the metadata.The batch processing apparatus has such functions as registering themetadata and unifying management of the registered metadata, asnecessary for the execution of these processes as described above, andfurthermore produces newly as the metadata upon process execution, aprocess flow necessary for creating the desired output data and contentsof intermediate data created in each process, based on the registeredcontents of the metadata. By registering the process flow and thecontents of the intermediate data, the batch processing apparatusachieves creation of the desired output data based on the input data asa source, only upon registration of the necessary metadata.

Explained first is the metadata to be registered in the batch processingapparatus described as the embodiment of this invention.

In the batch process, the output data are generally acquired byexecuting a predetermined processing operation such as various types ofset operations on the data containing a hierarchical structure expressedin a table format to be managed based on a relational data model such asa so-called RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System), for example.

To achieve the objective, the information concerning “data item name”,“input”, “a processing operation contents”, and “output” is previouslyregistered as metadata in a predetermined repository in this batchprocessing apparatus described as the embodiment of this invention, asshown in FIG. 1.

Herein, the metadata identifying “data item name” defines a categoryname in a case where the data item name or the data item contains a code(category). The metadata identifying “input” defines the input data,i.e., a managed object, and indicates each code or the like other than aformat of the input data in a case where the data item contains a code.Furthermore, the metadata identifying “a processing operation contents”defines an extraction condition expression for extracting the input datacorresponding to a processing object, a derivation operation expressionfor expressing the output data derived according to the data item of theinput data, or the like, and defines an operation between multiplerecords, i.e., between rows, other than each data item, i.e., anoperation between columns. Yet further, the metadata identifying“output” defines the output data and indicates the data item, theformat, and the like of the output data. It is to be noted that specificexamples of those metadata are described later.

The batch processing apparatus performs various types of processesaccording to the metadata upon acquisition of those various kinds ofmetadata from the repository.

The batch processing apparatus newly produces as the metadata suchinformation as, e.g., information indicating the process flow of thebatch process, contents of the intermediate data such as a format of theintermediate data created in each process, information concerning a linkbetween the input data and the output data in each process, and thelike, thereby registering the information in the repository.

Thus, the batch processing apparatus executes each process in accordancewith the processes to be executed, registered in the repository, starttimings of the processes, and the process execution order. In thissituation, to create the desired output data, the batch processingapparatus starts each of the processes sequentially in accordance withthe process flow in a manner to start the subsequent process uponcompletion of the previous process.

Hereinafter, the batch processing apparatus operated based on this typeof metadata declaration is explained in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the batch processing apparatus has a display andoperation unit 10 through which a user specification is input, ametadata input unit 20 for producing and registering a repository 30,the metadata based on the user specification created through the displayand operation unit 10, the repository 30 for memorizing the metadata, anoperation processing unit 40 for executing various types of operationprocesses based on the metadata stored and registered in the repository30, a display and operation unit 50 used for controlling processoperation, and a process management operating unit 60 for controllingthe process operation. In addition, the display and operation units 10,50 are respectively shown as separated units in FIG. 2 but may beconfigured as a common unit in a case where the batch processingapparatus is configured with a single computer or the like.

The display and operation unit 10 is configured as a user interface, forexample, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or anoperation device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. With thebatch processing apparatus, a system designer or a system administratordisplays and changes through the display and operation unit 10 the userspecification such as a specification of the input and output data or aspecification of the processing operation contents. The informationinput through the display and operation unit 10 is supplied to themetadata input unit 20.

The metadata input unit 20 produces the metadata based on the userspecification input through the display and operation unit 10 and alsofunctions as an interface to store and register the produced metadata inthe repository 30. The metadata are supplied to the repository 30through the metadata input unit 20. Furthermore, the metadata input unit20 newly produces based on the metadata stored in the repository 30, theinformation concerning the process flow of the batch process, thecontents of the intermediate data such as a format of the intermediatedata created in each process, the information concerning the linkbetween the input data and the output data in each process, or the like,thereby registering those data in the repository.

The repository 30 is created on a predetermined external storage devicesuch as a hard disk or a device having a RAID (Redundant Arrays ofIndependent (Inexpensive) Disks) structure using multiple hard disks.The repository 30 memorizes and registers the metadata supplied from themetadata input unit 20. The metadata registered in the repository 30 areread out under control of the process management operating unit 60,thereby being supplied to the operation processing unit 40. The metadataregistered in the repository 30 are read out by the metadata input unit20 as well.

The operation processing unit 40 is configured with multiple processingunits, which will be described later. The operation processing unit 40acquires the metadata from the repository upon reception of a controlsignal indicative of a batch process starting instruction from theprocess management operating unit 60, inputs based on the declarationprocess of the metadata one or more input data stored in thepredetermined external storage device that is not shown, performs theprocessing operation upon execution of each of the operating process invarious types under control of the process management operating unit 60,and outputs the processed data as the output data configured with one ormore output files. The input data herein are such a concept thatcertainly contains the data as a source but contains the intermediatedata for another operation process in a case where the intermediate datacreated in an operation process is used as the input for the previousoperation process. In the same manner, the output data herein are such aconcept that certainly contains not only the final output data but alsocontains the intermediate data for a operation process in a case wherethe intermediate data created in the operation process is used as theinput for another operation process. When creating the intermediate dataor the output data, the operation processing unit 40 writes those datain the predetermined external storage device, not shown, and reads outthe data written in the external storage device if needed.

The display and operation unit 50 is configured as a user interface, forexample, the display device such as the LCD, or the operation devicesuch as the keyboard, the mouse, or the like in the same manner as thedisplay and operation unit 10. With the batch processing apparatus, anoperator operating the system performs such an operation for controllingthe process operation, by providing the batch process startinginstruction through the display and operation unit 50, in a case ofperforming the batch process with the batch processing apparatus.Furthermore, the display and operation unit 50 can display the outputdata to be ultimately output. That is, the display and operation unit 50is operated by the operator to provide the batch process startinginstruction or to perform monitoring. The information indicative of thebatch process starting instruction or the like input through the displayand operation unit 50 is supplied to the process management operatingunit 60.

The process management operating unit 60 controls the process operationin accordance with the instruction provided through the display andoperation unit 50. Upon reception of the instruction through the displayand operation unit 50, the process management operating unit 60 suppliesthe control signal to the repository 30 so that the correspondingmetadata are read out of the repository 30 while supplying the controlsignal for rendering the operation processing unit 40 able to performthe corresponding process.

To be more specific, this type of the batch processing apparatus isconfigured with such hardware as shown in FIG. 3. It is to be noted thatFIG. 3 does not show the display and operation units 10 and 50. That is,a CPU (Central Processing Unit) controlled in accordance with a programdeveloped in memory 100 can implement the function of the metadata inputunit 20, the operation processing unit 40, and the process managementoperating unit 60 in the batch processing apparatus. In the batchprocessing apparatus, the CPU 110 functioning as the metadata input unit20 previously creates the repository 30 in the external storage devicebefore the CPU 110 functioning as the operation processing unit 40executes the operating process. Furthermore, in the batch processingapparatus, the external storage device 120 preliminarily memorizes theinput data as a source while memorizing the output data upon creationthereof.

As described above, the batch processing apparatus can enhance the speedof the process by having the structure in which the metadata and thedata to be processed are developed in the memory 100.

The batch processing apparatus performs the predetermined processingoperation on the input data upon execution of each of the operationprocesses in various types by the operation processing unit 40. Herein,a function necessary for the batch process is discussed withconsideration to a function to be implemented with the operationprocessing unit 40.

Cited as a function necessary for the batch process is a data input andoutput function. That is, the batch process requires the function forinputting multiple objective tables accompanied by a relation controland the function for outputting the data to the objective tables as thedata input and output function.

Also, a data structure transformation function is cited as a functionnecessary for the batch process. In other words, the patch processrequires the function for transforming the data structure into theoutput data structure, as the data structure transformation function.

Furthermore an operation function between the data items, i.e., the rowsin the single record, is cited as a function necessary for the batchprocess. That is, the batch process requires the extraction conditionfunction for extracting the input data corresponding to the processingobject, the code conversion condition for converting the code into thecode of the output data in a case where the data item of the input datacontains the code, and the derivation operation function underconditions such as a four arithmetic operation or various functionoperations, as the operation function between the data items.

Yet further, an operation function between columns, i.e., the records,is cited as a function necessary for the batch process. That is, thebatch process necessitates a management unit operation function forgrouping and outputting the data items serving as a factor, such as,e.g., a store, a customer, or the like, as each management unit forexpressing an output unit of the output data. The batch process furtherrequires an operation function of the category hierarchy as an operationfunction between the records, to make the operation performable underthe condition that, for example, such industrial classifications as,e.g., the agricultural industry, the fishing industry, and the like aregrouped as a single industrial classification code such as the primaryindustry. Further, the batch process requires a group operation functionfor performing a group operation such as a summation process of theparent-child relationship existing in the input data, as the operationfunction between the records. Yet further, the batch processnecessitates an extraction operation function with a condition issuancesuch as four arithmetic operations, various function operations, or thelike, using units of operation and aggregation, as the operationfunction between the records, as in the case of performing the operationfor each transaction number and an aggregation operation for eachcustomer unit.

Furthermore, a time series updating and operation function is necessaryfor the batch process. That is, the batch process necessitates the timeseries updating function, a past value setting function, a comparisonoperation function, a past correction function, and the like.

Herein, the batch processing apparatus can enhance the speed of theprocess through the structure in which the metadata and the data to beprocessed are developed in the memory 100, as described above. The batchprocessing apparatus, however, has difficulty developing the data in thememory 100 due to the large data amount in a case of the operationprocess between the data over multiple instances in a management unit,as in the case of the group operation and the time series operationdescribed above, even though the batch processing apparatus can developand process in the memory 100 the data in the single instance in themanagement unit because of the limited data amount.

The batch processing apparatus is thus structured in a manner containingthree processing units, i.e., a normal operation processing unit 150 forperforming a normal operation except the group operation and the timeseries operation as described above, a group operation processing unit160 for performing a group operation process defined as a groupaggregation in the parent-child relationship existing in the input data,a time series operation processing unit 170 for performing a time seriesoperation process for updating the time series data are formed as shownin FIG. 4, as the operation processing unit 40 to satisfy all of thefunctions in various types as described above, in spite of developingand processing the data in the memory 100, and further that the data areintermediately created between the group operation process and the timeseries operation process. In the batch processing apparatus, the normaloperation processing unit is broadly divided into a summary operationprocessing unit for performing a summary operation process produced uponcreation of the summary data and a specific operation processing unitfor performing a specific operation process produced upon creation ofthe specific data, which are not illustrated herein.

In addition, the summary data, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5,are defined as a cross-tabulation table of a summary summarized bybranch office, created as the output data (user's view) based on theinput data as a source, which are defined as the branch table configuredwith information concerning a branch office number, a branch officename, a branch office address, a service shop display, and the like, acustomer table configured with information concerning a customer number,a name, an address, an industrial classification code, a branch officenumber, a contract date, and the like, and a transaction tableconfigured with information concerning a transaction number, a customernumber, a product code, a transaction code, a transaction money amount,and the like. It is to be noted that the user's view is a designedspecification at the time of an output display on a display screen butmay correspond to or may be partially different from a format of theoutput data to be actually output as the data. An example will be givenlater explaining a relation between the user's view and the output data.

The specific data are defined as a customer-oriented specification andthe like created as the output data (user's view) based on the inputdata as a source, which are defined as the branch office tableconfigured with information concerning a branch office number, a branchoffice name, a branch office address, a branch office type, an areacode, and the like, the customer table configured with informationconcerning a customer number, a name, an address, an industrialclassification, a branch office number, an outstanding balance, and thelike, the transaction table configured with information a transactionnumber, an account day, an account classification, a transaction moneyamount, a customer number, and the like, as shown in FIG. 6.

In the batch processing apparatus, the normal operation processing unit150 ₁ the group operation processing unit 160, and the time seriesoperation processing unit 170, as described above, form the process flowin series with one another, as shown in FIG. 7. In the operationprocessing unit 40, it is to be noted that the group operationprocessing unit 160 and the time series operation processing unit 170out of those three processing units are executed only when existing inthe process created as metadata MD.

Herein, the input data as shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to a source dataor an intermediate file in FIG. 7 whereas the output data in FIG. 4corresponds to an intermediate file or an output file shown in FIG. 7.In other words, in the data processing apparatus, the output data in thesingle process flow in series can be defined in the metadata, as theinput data in another process flow in series, and thus a network for theprocess can be constructed.

In concrete terms, the normal operation processing unit 150 includes ametadata acquisition unit 151 for acquiring the metadata MD, an inputunit 152 for a source file SF as the input data, a normal operation unit153 for performing a normal operation, and an output unit 154 foroutputting the intermediate file MF1 as shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore,the group operation processing unit 160 includes a metadata acquisitionunit 161 for acquiring the metadata MD, an input unit 162 for inputtingthe intermediate file MF₁ as the input data, a group operation unit 163for performing the group operation, and an output unit 164 foroutputting the intermediate file MF₂ as the output data. Furthermore,the time series operation processing unit 170 includes a metadataacquisition unit for acquiring the metadata MD, an input unit 172 forinputting the intermediate file MF₂, a time series operation unit 173for performing the time series operation, and an output unit 174 foroutputting the output file OF serving as the output data.

In the operation processing unit 40 configured with those threeprocessing units, the output data created in the normal operationprocess are used in the group operation process, and further, in a casewhere the output data created in the group operation process are used inthe time series operation process, the data are transferred between theoperation processes as described hereinafter.

That is, in the operation processing unit 40, the predeterminedoperation is performed based on the metadata MD by the normal operationunit 153 and the single intermediate file MF₁ defined as the output datais output from the output unit 154 where the metadata MD of the normaloperation processing unit 150 are input in the metadata acquisition unit151 whereas one or more source files SF defined as the input data areinput in the input unit 152.

In the operation processing unit 40, the predetermined group operationis subsequently performed based on the metadata MD by the groupoperation unit 163 and the single intermediate file MF₂ as the outputdata are output from the output unit 164 where the metadata MD are inputin the metadata acquisition unit 161 in the group operation processingunit while the single intermediate file MF₁ output from the output unit154 in the output operation processing unit 150 or the source file setwith the group information, not shown, are input as the input data inthe input unit 162.

In the operation processing unit 40, the predetermined time seriesoperation is performed based on the metadata MD by the time seriesoperation unit 173 and the one or more output files OFs are output asthe output data, from the output unit 174 where the metadata MD areinput in the metadata acquisition unit 171 in the time series operationprocessing unit 170 while the single intermediate file MF₂ output fromthe output unit 164 in the group operation processing unit 160 or theintermediate file output from the output unit 154 in the normalprocessing unit 150 ₁ not shown, is input as the input data in the inputunit 152.

As described above, in the batch processing apparatus, the output datacreated in the normal operation process are used in the group operationprocess, and further, the network of the process is structured so thatthe output data created in the group operation process are used in thetime series operation process. In the batch processing apparatus,furthermore, one or more output data are created and output withoutoutputting the intermediate data in a case where only the normaloperation process is needed. On the other hand, where the process isshifted to another in the batch processing apparatus, the intermediatedata are to be created but one set is enough even where multiple sets ofthe output data are to be eventually created.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, for example, processflows are respectively produced for classifications such as an arbitrarybusiness service unit, a processing timing (processing cycle) such as aday, a month, or the like, a management unit for specifying an outputunit of the output data concerning a shop, a customer, or the like, andspecific data or the summary data are created. The metadata can bedefined so that the output data in the aforementioned process flows areused as the input data in other process flows.

In the batch processing apparatus, for example, the metadata are definedin a manner to produce a process flow as shown in FIG. 8 in a case ofcreating data concerning “daily transaction-specific particulars aboutbusiness service ∘∘”, “daily branch office-specific summary aboutbusiness service ∘∘”, “monthly branch office-specific summary aboutbusiness service ∘∘”, “monthly customer-specific particulars aboutbusiness service ΔΔ”, “daily customer-specific particulars aboutbusiness service □□”, and “daily customer-specific summary aboutbusiness service □□”.

That is, the batch processing apparatus creates the data concerning“daily branch office-specific summary about business service ∘∘” byproducing as a process flow for each management unit and cycle, thespecific operation process and the group operation process with theoutput data created in the specific operation process, defined as theinput data, as shown in the first line in FIG. 8.

The batch processing apparatus creates the data concerning “daily branchoffice-specific summary about business service ∘∘” by producing as aprocess flow for each management unit and cycle, the summary operationprocess, the group operation process with the output data created in thesummary operation process, defined as the input data, and the timeseries operation process with the output data created in the groupoperation process, defined as the input data, as shown in the secondline in FIG. 8. In this situation, the metadata are defined in the batchprocessing apparatus in a manner to use as the input data for thesummary operation process, the output data created in the specificoperation process performed at the time of creating the data concerning“daily transaction-specific particulars about business service ∘∘”.

The batch processing apparatus, furthermore, creates the data concerning“monthly branch office-specific summary about business service ∘∘” byproducing as a process flow for each management unit and cycle, thesummary operation process and the time series operation process with theoutput data created in the summary operation process, defined as theinput data, as shown in the third line in FIG. 8.

The batch processing apparatus creates the data concerning “monthlycustomer-specific summary about business service ΔΔ” by producing as aprocess flow for each management unit and cycle, the specific operationprocess, the group operation process with the output data created in thespecific operation process, defined as the input data, and the timeseries operation process with the output data created in the groupoperation process, defined as the input data, as shown in the fourthline in FIG. 8.

Furthermore, the batch processing apparatus creates the data concerning“daily custom-specific particulars about business service □□” byproducing the specific operation process as a process flow for eachmanagement unit and cycle, as shown in the fifth line in FIG. 8.

Yet further, the batch processing apparatus creates the data concerning“daily customer-specific summary about business service □□” by producingthe summary operation process as a process flow for each management unitand cycle, as shown in the sixth line in FIG. 8.

As described above, in the batch processing apparatus, the process flowsare respectively produced for the management units and the cycles, andthe network of various processes can be structured by defining themetadata in a manner to use the output data in the process flows as theinput data in another process flow.

Next, contents of the metadata produced for each operation process inthe batch processing apparatus formed based on a conception of theaforementioned processing are explained in detail while processingoperation contents of each operation process are further described.

A case of the summary operation process is explained first.

In the batch processing apparatus, the repository 30 supplies each typeof metadata to a summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ for performingthe summary operation process structured as shown in FIG. 9 to implementthe summary operation process.

Herein, a summary operation unit 153 ₁ corresponding to the normaloperation unit 153 in the normal operation processing unit 150previously shown in FIG. 7 has an extraction condition judging unit 201for judging an extraction condition, a code conversion unit 202 forconverting a code, a derivation operation unit 203 for performing aderivation operation with a condition such as a four arithmeticoperation or various function operations, a category operation unit 204for performing a category operation based on a hierarchy betweencategories defined in the metadata upon creation of the summary data ofmultidimensional and multi-level hierarchy, a category operation unitbased derivation operation unit 205 for performing the derivationoperation after the category operation by the category operation unit204 to create the summary data of the multidimensional and multi-levelhierarchy, and a data structure transformation unit 206, as shown inFIG. 9.

Furthermore, the batch processing apparatus produces as the metadatanecessary for the summary operation process, in the repository 30,interface metadata indicating various buffers or a relation of linksbetween those buffers as described later, input and output informationmetadata indicating the input data and the output data, extractioncondition metadata indicating an extraction condition expressionexpressed with the data item of the input data as a factor, codeconversion metadata indicating contents of the code conversion forconverting the value of the data item of the input data into the code ofthe output data and the conversion method, derivation operation metadataindicating a derivation operation expression for expressing the outputdata derived based on the data item of the input data, categoryoperation metadata indicating the category operation based on thehierarchy between the categories in a case of creation of the summarydata of the multidimensional and multi-level hierarchy, categoryoperation based derivation operation metadata indicating the derivationoperation expression after the category operation based on the hierarchybetween the categories in a case of creation of the summary data of themultidimensional and multi-level hierarchy, calculation area metadataindicating a calculation buffer as an area for holding the calculatedresult as described later, and data structure transformation metadataindicating transformation of the data structure into the output datastructure. In the batch processing apparatus, all of these sets ofmetadata are supplied through the metadata acquisition unit 151 to theunits, respectively.

In the batch processing apparatus, the interface metadata are firstsupplied through the metadata acquisition unit 151 to the input unit152, the summary operation unit 1531, and the output unit 154, andvarious buffers or a relation of links between those buffers are clearlyindicated based on the interface metadata.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, the input and outputinformation metadata are supplied through the metadata acquisition unit151 to the input unit 152 and the output unit 154, and the informationon the input data or output data, or the management unit or relationsbetween the multiple sets of data are clearly indicated based on theinput and output information metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the extraction condition metadata aresupplied to the extraction condition judging unit 201 through themetadata acquisition unit 151, and the extraction condition is judgedbased on the extraction condition metadata.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, the code conversionmetadata are supplied to the code conversion unit 202 through themetadata acquisition unit 151, and the code is converted based on thecode conversion metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the derivation operation metadata aresupplied to the derivation operation unit 203 through the metadataacquisition unit 151, and the derivation operation is performed based onthe derivation operation metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the category operation metadata aresupplied to the category operation unit 204 through the metadataacquisition unit 151, and the category operation is performed based onthe category operation metadata.

Yet further, in the batch processing apparatus, the calculation areametadata are supplied to the category operation unit 204 through themetadata acquisition unit 151, and the calculation buffer is clearlyindicated based on the category operation metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the category operation basedderivation operation metadata are supplied to the category operationbased derivation operation unit 205 through the metadata acquisitionunit 151, and the derivation operation is performed after the categoryoperation based on the category operation based derivation operationmetadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, furthermore, the data structuretransformation metadata are supplied to the data structuretransformation unit 206 through the metadata acquisition unit 151, andthe data are transformed into the output data in a structure based onthe data structure transformation metadata.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ for performing the processbased on various metadata as described above executes a series ofprocedural steps as shown in FIG. 10, thereby being able to implementthe summary operation process.

First, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ acquires variousmetadata from the repository 30 at the step S1, as shown in FIG. 10, anddevelops the metadata in the memory 100 previously shown in FIG. 3,thereby developing in the memory 100 an input buffer for holding theinput data, an intermediate buffer for processing the data, an outputbuffer for holding the output data, and a calculation buffer for holdinga calculated result, based on the interface metadata at the step S2.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ reads the input data basedon the input and output information metadata at the step S3, and setsthe input data in the input buffer developed in the memory 100. Inaddition, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ develops multipleinput buffers in the memory 100 and sets the multiple sets of the inputdata in each of the input buffers in a case of inputting the multiplesets of the input data.

Subsequently, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ makes ajudgment at the step S5, as to whether the process is performed for allthe input data. Herein, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁shifts the process to the step S5 in a case where the process is not yetperformed for all the input data. On the other hand, the summaryoperation processing unit 150 ₁ shifts the process to the step S12 in acase where the process is already performed for all the input data.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ judges the extractioncondition based on the extraction condition metadata using theextraction condition judging unit 201 at the step S5 in a case of makinga judgment at the step S4, where the process is not performed for allthe input data.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ repeats the process from thestep S3 without processing the input data in a case of making a judgmentat the step S6 that the extraction condition is not satisfied.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁, on the other hand, makes ajudgment at the step S7 as to whether a value of the management unit ischanged or not, in a case of making a judgment at the step S6 that theextraction condition is satisfied.

Herein, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ shifts the processto the step S12 upon judgment at the step S7 that a value of themanagement unit is changed and performs using the category operationbased derivation operation 205, the derivation operation after thecategory operation, based on the category operation based derivationoperation metadata, thereby setting the result thereof in thecalculation buffer developed in the memory 100.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ sets the contents of thecalculation buffer in the output buffer developed in the memory 100 atthe step S113, and outputs contents of the output buffer into thedatabase at the step S14. It is to be noted that the summary operationprocessing unit 150 ₁ develops multiple output buffers in the memory 100in a case of outputting multiple sets of the output data, and transformsthe data into the output data in structure by establishing associationsbetween the calculation buffer and the multiple output buffers based onthe data structure transformation metadata using the data structuretransformation unit 206. The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁then shifts the process to the step S8.

On the other hand, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ shiftsthe process to the step S8 upon judgment at the step S7 that a value ofthe management unit is not changed. The summary operation processingunit 150 ₁ sets the contents of the input buffer in the intermediatebuffer developed in the memory 100 at the step S8, converts the codebased on the code conversion metadata using the code conversion unit 202at the step S9, and sets the result thereof in the intermediate buffer.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ subsequently performs thederivation operation based on the derivation operation metadata usingthe derivation operation unit 203 at the step S10, and further adds theresult thereof to update the intermediate buffer.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ performs the categoryoperation based on the category operation metadata and the calculationarea metadata using the category operation unit 204 at the step S11, andadds the result thereof to further update the calculation buffer,thereby repeating the process from the step S3.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ repeats the procedural stepsas described above, and performs the derivation operation after thecategory operation using the category operation based derivationoperation unit 205 at the step S12, thereby adding the result thereof toupdate the calculation buffer developed in the memory 100, in a case ofjudging that the process is performed for all the output data at thestep S4.

After setting the contents of the calculation buffer at the step S113,the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ outputs the contents of theoutput buffer as the final output data into the database at the stepS14, thereby terminating this series of processes. In a case ofoutputting multiple sets of the output data, the summary operationprocessing unit 150 ₁ develops multiple output buffers in the memory 100and establishes associations between the calculation buffer and themultiple output buffers based on the data structure transformationmetadata to transform the data structure into the output data structureby using the data structure transformation unit 206.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ executes a series ofprocedural steps in this manner, thereby being able to implement thesummary operation process.

That is, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ develops variousmetadata in the memory 100 upon acquisition of these metadata from therepository 30 where the summary operation process is started or startedas a process to be subsequently started under the control of the processmanagement operating unit 60. The summary operation processing unit 150₁ acquires the management unit based on the input and output informationmetadata in accordance with management unit acquisition order, reads therecords necessary for the input data in the input buffer based on theinput and output information metadata and the extraction conditionmetadata in accordance with an input order of the data as a processingobject, and thereafter sets the necessary data items from the inputbuffer into the intermediate buffer. Where converting the code based onthe code conversion metadata in accordance with a code conversion order,the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ sets the result thereof inthe intermediate buffer, performs the derivation operation based on thederivation operation metadata in accordance with a derivation operationorder, and adds the result to update the intermediate buffer until themanagement unit is changed. Furthermore, the summary operationprocessing unit 150 ₁ performs the category operation based on thecategory operation metadata and the calculation area metadata inaccordance with a category operation instruction, adds the resultthereof to update the intermediate buffer until the management unit ischanged, performs the derivation operation after the category operationbased on the category operation based derivation operation metadata inaccordance with a derivation operation order after the categoryoperation subsequent to change of the management unit, and then sets theresult thereof in the calculation buffer.

The summary operation processing unit 150 ₁, sets the contents of thecalculation buffer into the output buffer based on the data structuretransformation metadata upon reception of an output buffer setting orderat every change of the management unit, and writes the contents of theoutput buffer in the intermediate data or the multiple sets of theoutput data classified by objective, based on the output informationmetadata at every change of the management unit, in accordance with adata output order.

As described above, the summary operation processing unit 150 ₁ cancreate the summary data of a multidimensional and multi-level hierarchyby executing the summary operation process based on the variousmetadata.

A case of the specific operation process is explained next.

In the batch processing apparatus, the repository 30 supplies each typeof metadata to a specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ for performingthe specific operation process structured as shown in FIG. 11 toimplement the specific operation process.

Herein, a specific operation unit 153 ₂ corresponding to the normaloperation unit 153 in the normal operation processing unit 150previously shown in FIG. 7 has an extraction condition judging unit 251for judging an extraction condition, a code conversion unit 252, aderivation operation unit 253 for performing an derivation operationwith a condition such as a four arithmetic operation or various functionoperation, and a data structure transformation unit 254 for convertingthe data structure in the output data structure.

Furthermore, the batch processing apparatus produces as the metadatanecessary for the specific operation process, in the repository 30, theinterface metadata indicating various buffers or a relation of linksbetween those buffers, the input and output information metadataindicating the input data and the output data, extraction conditionmetadata indicating an extraction condition expression expressed withthe data item of the input data as a factor, the code conversionmetadata indicating contents of the code conversion for converting thevalue of the data item of the input data into the code of the outputdata and the conversion method, the derivation operation metadataindicating a derivation operation expression for expressing the outputdata derived based on the data item of the input data, and the datastructure transformation metadata indicating transformation of the datastructure into the output data structure. In the batch processingapparatus, all of these sets of metadata are supplied through themetadata acquisition unit 151 to the units, respectively.

In the batch processing apparatus, the interface metadata are firstsupplied through the metadata acquisition unit 151 to the input unit152, the specific operation unit 153 ₂, and the output unit 154, andvarious buffers or a relation of links between those buffers are clearlyindicated based on the interface metadata.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, the input and outputinformation metadata are supplied through the metadata acquisition unit151 to the input unit 152 and the output unit 154, and the informationon the input data or output data, or the management unit or a relationbetween multiple sets of data is clearly indicated based on the inputand output information metadata. In the batch processing apparatus, theextraction condition metadata are supplied to the extraction conditionjudging unit 251 through the metadata acquisition unit 151, and theextraction condition is judged based on the extraction conditionmetadata.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, the code conversionmetadata are supplied to the code conversion unit 252 through themetadata acquisition unit 151, and the code is converted based on thecode conversion metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the derivation operation metadata aresupplied to the derivation operation unit 253 through the metadataacquisition unit 151, and the derivation operation is performed based onthe derivation operation metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, furthermore, the data structuretransformation metadata are supplied to the data structuretransformation unit 254 through the metadata acquisition unit 151, andthe data are transformed into the output data in a structure based onthe data structure transformation metadata.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ for performing the processbased on various metadata as described above executes a series ofprocedural steps as shown in FIG. 12, thereby being able to implementthe specific operation process.

First, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ acquires variousmetadata from the repository 30 at the step S21, as shown in FIG. 12,and develops the metadata in the memory 100, thereby developing in thememory 100 the input buffer for holding the input data, the intermediatebuffer for processing the data, the output buffer for holding the outputdata, and the calculation buffer for holding a calculated result, basedon the interface metadata at the step S22.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ reads the input data basedon the input and output information metadata at the step S23, and setsthe input data in the input buffer developed in the memory 100. Inaddition, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ develops multipleinput buffers in the memory 100 and sets the multiple sets of the inputdata in each of the input buffers in a case of inputting the multiplesets of the input data.

Subsequently, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ makes ajudgment at the step S24, as to whether the process is performed for allthe input data. Herein, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂shifts the process to the step S25 in a case where the process is notyet performed for all the input data. On the other hand, the specificoperation processing unit 150 ₂ shifts the process to the step S31 uponjudgment that the process is already performed for all the input data.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ judges the extractioncondition based on the extraction condition metadata using theextraction condition judging unit 251 at the step S25 in a case ofmaking a judgment at the step S24, that the process is not performed forall the input data.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ repeats the process fromthe step S23 without processing the input data in a case of making ajudgment at the step S26 that the extraction condition is not satisfied.

On the other hand, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ makes ajudgment at the step S27 as to whether a value of the management unit ischanged or not, in a case of making a judgment at the step S26 that theextraction condition is satisfied.

Herein, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ shifts the processto the step S31 upon judgment at the step S27 that a value of themanagement unit is changed, and sets the contents of the intermediatebuffer developed in the memory 100 in the output buffer developed in thesame memory 100, thereby outputting contents of the output buffer intothe database at the step S32. The specific operation processing unit 150₂ shifts the process to the step S28. It is to be noted that thespecific operation processing unit 150 ₂ develops the multiple outputbuffers in the memory 100 in a case of outputting the plural sets of theoutput data, and transforms the data into the output data in structureby establishing associations between the calculation buffer and themultiple output buffers based on the data structure transformationmetadata using the data structure transformation unit 254.

On the other hand, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ shiftsthe process to the step S28 upon judgment at the step S27 that a valueof the management unit is not changed. The specific operation processingunit 150 ₂ sets the contents of the input buffer in the intermediatebuffer at the step S28, converts the code based on the code conversionmetadata using the code conversion unit 252 at the step S29, and setsthe result thereof in the intermediate buffer.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ subsequently performs thederivation operation based on the derivation operation metadata usingthe derivation operation unit 253 at the step S30, and further adds theresult thereof to update the intermediate buffer, thereby repeating theprocess from the step S23.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ repeats the proceduralsteps as described above and outputs, in a case of judging that theprocess is performed for all the output data at the step S24, thecontents of the output buffer as the final output data into the databaseat the step S32, to terminate this series of processes after setting thecontents of the intermediate buffer into the output buffer at the stepS31. It is to be noted that the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂develops the multiple output buffers in the memory 100 in a case ofoutputting the multiple sets of the output data, and transforms the datainto the output data in structure by establishing associations betweenthe intermediate buffer and the multiple output buffers based on thedata structure transformation metadata using the data structuretransformation unit 254.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ executes a series ofprocedural steps as shown in FIG. 10, thereby being able to implementthe specific operation process.

That is, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₁ develops variousmetadata in the memory 100 upon acquisition of these metadata from therepository 30 where the specific operation process is started or startedas a process to be subsequently started under the control of the processmanagement operating unit 60. The specific operation processing unit 150₂ acquires the management unit based on the input and output informationmetadata in accordance with a management unit acquisition order, readsthe records necessary for the input data in the input buffer based onthe input and output information metadata and the extraction conditionmetadata in accordance with an input order of the data as a processingobject, and thereafter sets the necessary data items from the inputbuffer into the intermediate buffer. Where converting the code based onthe code conversion metadata in accordance with a code conversion order,the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ sets the result thereof inthe intermediate buffer, performs the derivation operation based on thederivation operation metadata in accordance with a derivation operationorder, and adds the result to update the intermediate buffer until themanagement unit is changed.

The specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ sets the contents of theintermediate buffer into the output buffer based on the data structuretransformation metadata upon reception of an output buffer setting orderat every change of the management unit, and writes the contents of theoutput buffer in the intermediate data or the multiple sets of theoutput data classified by objective, based on the output informationmetadata at every change of the management unit, in accordance with adata output order.

As described above, the specific operation processing unit 150 ₂ cancreate the specific data by executing the specific operation processbased on the various metadata.

A case of the group operation process is explained next.

In the batch processing apparatus, the repository 30 supplies each typeof metadata to a group operation processing unit 160 for performing thegroup operation process structured as shown in FIG. 13 to implement thegroup operation process.

Herein, the aforementioned group operation unit 163 has a groupoperation unit 301 for performing a group operation for a summationprocess of the parent-child relationship existing in the input data, agroup operation based derivation operation unit 302 for performing aderivation process after the group operation by the group operation unit301, and a data structure transformation unit 303 for transforming thedata structure into the output data structure.

Furthermore, the batch processing apparatus produces as the metadatanecessary for the specific operation process in the repository 30, theinterface metadata indicating various buffers or a relation of linksbetween those buffers, the input and output information metadataindicating the input data and the output data, group operation metadataindicating details of the group operation, group operation basedderivation operation metadata indicating the derivation operation afterthe group operation, and data structure transformation metadataindicating structure transformation to the output data. In the batchprocessing apparatus, all of these sets of metadata are supplied throughthe metadata acquisition unit 161 to the units, respectively.

In the batch processing apparatus, the interface metadata are firstsupplied through the metadata acquisition unit 161 to the input unit162, the group operation unit 163, and the output unit 164, and variousbuffers or a relation of links between those buffers are clearlyindicated based on the interface metadata.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, the input and outputinformation metadata are supplied through the metadata acquisition unit161 to the input unit 162 and the output unit 164, and the informationon the input data or output data, or the management unit or a relationbetween the multiple sets of data is clearly indicated based on theinput and output information metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the group operation metadata aresupplied to the group operation unit 301 through the metadataacquisition unit 161, and the group operation is performed based on thegroup operation metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, furthermore, the group operationbased derivation operation metadata are supplied to the group operationbased derivation operation unit 302 through the metadata acquisitionunit 161, and the derivation operation is performed after the groupoperation, based on the group operation based derivation operationmetadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, yet further, the data structuretransformation metadata are supplied to the data structuretransformation unit 303 through the metadata acquisition unit 161, andthe data are transformed into the output data in a structure based onthe data structure transformation metadata.

The group operation processing unit 160 for performing the process basedon various metadata as described above executes a series of proceduralsteps as shown in FIG. 14, thereby being able to implement the groupoperation process.

First, the group operation processing unit 160 acquires various metadatafrom the repository 30 at the step S41, as shown in FIG. 14, anddevelops the metadata in the memory 100, thereby developing in thememory 100 the input buffer for holding the input data, the intermediatebuffer for processing the data, the output buffer for holding the outputdata, and the calculation buffer for holding a calculated result, basedon the interface metadata at the step S42.

The group operation processing unit 160 reads the input data based onthe input and output information metadata at the step S43, and sets theinput data in the input buffer developed in the memory 100. In addition,the group operation processing unit 160 develops the multiple inputbuffers in the memory 100 and sets the multiple sets of the input datain each of the input buffers in a case of inputting the multiple sets ofthe input data.

Subsequently, the group operation processing unit 160 makes a judgmentat the step S44, as to whether the process is performed for all theinput data. Herein, the group operation processing unit 160 shifts theprocess to the step S45 in a case where the process is not yet performedfor all the input data. On the other hand, the group processing unit 160terminates a series of procedural steps upon judgment that the processis already performed for all the input data.

In a case of judgment that the process is not performed for all theinput data at the step S44, the group operation processing unit 160acquires at the step S45, data items of the input data for identifyingthe parent-child relationship and a calculation method from the groupoperation metadata, for the purpose of group calculation in theparent-child relationship, thereby making a judgment at the step S46 asto whether there is a parent-child relationship based on the acquiredinformation.

In a case of judgment at the step S46 that there is not a parent-childrelationship, the group operation processing unit 160 shifts theoperation to the step S54, performs the derivation operation based onthe group operation based derivation operation metadata using the groupoperation based derivation operation unit 302 at the step S55 aftersetting the contents of the input buffer into the output bufferdeveloped in the memory 100, and sets the result of the derivationoperation in the output buffer. It is to be noted that group operationprocessing unit 160 develops the multiple output buffers in the memory100 in a case of outputting the multiple sets of the output data, andtransforms the data into the output data in structure by establishingassociations between the intermediate buffer and the multiple outputbuffers based on the data structure transformation metadata using thedata structure transformation unit 303.

The group operation processing unit 160 then outputs the contents of theoutput buffer to the database at the step S56, and repeats the processfrom the step S43.

On the other hand, the group operation processing unit 160 shifts theprocess to the step S49 in a case of judgment at the step S46 that thereis a parent-child relationship, and reads the group summation record tomake a judgment as to whether there is the group summation record.

Herein, the group operation processing unit 160 shifts the process tothe step S49 in a case of making a judgment of the non-existence of thegroup summation record at the step S48, and performs the group operationbased on the group operation metadata using the group operation unit 301at the step S50 after setting the contents of the input buffer in theintermediate buffer developed in the memory 100, thereby setting theresult of the group operation in the intermediate buffer to shift theprocess to the step S53.

On the other hand, the group operation processing unit 160 shifts theprocess to the step S51 in a case of making a judgment of the existenceof the group summation record at the step S48. The group operationprocessing unit 160 sets the contents of the group summation record inthe intermediate buffer at the step S51, and performs the groupoperation based on the group operation metadata using the groupoperation unit 301 at the step S50 after adding the value of the inputdata to update the intermediate buffer, thereby setting the result ofthe group operation in the intermediate buffer to shift the process tothe step S53.

The group operation processing unit 160 outputs the created contents ofthe intermediate buffer to the database at the step S53 to set thecontents of the input buffer to the output buffer at the step S54. It isto be noted that the group operation processing unit 160 develops, in acase of outputting the multiple sets of the output data, the multipleoutput buffers in the memory 100 and transforms the data into the outputdata in structure by establishing associations between the intermediatebuffer and the multiple output buffers based on the data structuretransformation metadata using the data structure transformation unit303.

The group operation processing unit 160 performs the derivationoperation after the group operation, by using the group operation basedderivation operation unit 302 at the step S55, thereby outputting thecontents of the output buffer at the step S56 to repeat the process fromthe step S43.

The group operation processing unit 160 executes a series of proceduralsteps as described above, thereby being able to implement the groupoperation process.

That is, the group operation processing unit 160 develops variousmetadata in the memory 100 upon acquisition of these metadata from therepository 30 where the start instruction of the batch process is inputthrough the display and operation unit 50 and the group operationprocess is started as a process to be subsequently started under thecontrol of the process management operating unit 60. The group operationprocessing unit 160 reads the record necessary for the input data in theinput buffer based on the input and output information metadata, inaccordance with an input order of the data as a processing object, andthereafter sets the necessary data items in the intermediate data fromthe input buffer. Where performing the group operation based on thegroup operation metadata in accordance with the group operation order,the group operation processing unit 160 sets the result of the groupoperation into the intermediate buffer, and further performs thederivation operation after the group operation based on the groupoperation based derivation operation metadata in accordance with thederivation operation order after group operation, thereby setting theresult of the derivation operation into the intermediate buffer.

In response to reception of the setting order to the output buffer, thegroup operation processing unit 160 sets the contents of the inputbuffer or the intermediate buffer into the output buffer based on thedata structure transformation metadata, thereby writing the contents ofthe output buffer in the intermediate data or the multiple sets of theoutput data classified by objective, based on the input and outputinformation metadata, in accordance with the data output instruction.

The group operation processing unit 160 can execute the group operationprocess based on various metadata, as described above.

Lastly, a case of the time-series operation process is explained.

In the batch processing apparatus, the repository 30 supplies each typeof metadata to a time-series operation processing unit 170 forperforming the time-series operation process structured as shown in FIG.15 to implement the group operation process.

Herein, the aforementioned time-series operation unit 173 has atime-series operation unit 351 for performing a time-series operationand a data structure transformation unit 352 for transforming the datastructure into the output data structure.

Furthermore, the batch processing apparatus produces as the metadatanecessary for the time-series operation process in the repository 30,the interface metadata indicating various buffers or a relation of linksbetween those buffers, the input and output information metadataindicating the input data and the output data, time-series operationmetadata indicating the details of the time-series operation, and thedata structure transformation metadata indicating structuretransformation to the output data. In the batch processing apparatus,all of these sets of metadata are supplied through the metadataacquisition unit 171 to the units, respectively.

In the batch processing apparatus, the interface metadata are firstsupplied through the metadata acquisition unit 171 to the input unit172, the time-series operation unit 173, and the output unit 174, andvarious buffers or a relation of links between those buffers are clearlyindicated based on the interface metadata.

Furthermore, in the batch processing apparatus, the input and outputinformation metadata are supplied through the metadata acquisition unit171 to the input unit 172 and the output unit 174, and the informationon the input data or output data, or a relation between the multiplesets of data are clearly indicated based on the input and outputinformation metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, the time-series operation metadataare supplied to the time-series operation unit 173 through the metadataacquisition unit 171, and the time-series operation is performed basedon the time-series operation metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, yet further, the data structuretransformation metadata are supplied to the data structuretransformation unit 352 through the metadata acquisition unit 171, andthe data are transformed into the output data in a structure based onthe data structure transformation metadata.

The group operation processing unit 170 for performing the process basedon various metadata as described above executes a series of proceduralsteps as shown in FIG. 16, thereby being able to implement thetime-series operation process.

First, the time-series operation processing unit 170 acquires variousmetadata from the repository 30 at the step S61, as shown in FIG. 16,and develops the metadata in the memory 100, thereby developing in thememory 100 the input buffer for holding the input data, the intermediatebuffer for processing the data, the output buffer for holding the outputdata, and the calculation buffer for holding a calculated result, basedon the interface metadata at the step S62.

The time-series operation processing unit 170 reads the input data basedon the input and output information metadata at the step S63, and setsthe input data in the input buffer developed in the memory 100. Inaddition, the time-series operation processing unit 170 develops themultiple input buffers in the memory 100 and sets the multiple sets ofthe input data in each of the input buffers in a case of inputting themultiple sets of the input data.

Subsequently, the time-series operation processing unit 170 makes ajudgment at the step S64, as to whether the process is performed for allthe input data. Herein, the time-series operation processing unit 170shifts the process to the step S65 in a case where the process is notyet performed for all the input data. On the other hand, the time-seriesprocessing unit 170 directly terminates a series of procedural stepsupon judgment that the process is already performed for all the inputdata.

In a case of judgment that the process is not performed for all theinput data at the step S64, the time-series operation processing unit170 acquires at the step S65 information concerning past correction datato be acquired from the time-series operation metadata using thetime-series operation unit 351, thereby making a judgment as to whetherthe input data are defined as the past correction data for making thepast correction.

The time-series operation processing unit 170 shifts the process to thestep S66 in a case of making a judgment that the input data are definedas the past correction data. The time-series operation processing unit170 reads, using the time-series operation unit 351, the record with thepast date corresponding to the output data as the target to be subjectto the past correction, based on the time-series operation metadata atthe step S66, thereby setting this record into the intermediate bufferdeveloped in the memory 100.

The time-series operation processing unit 170 subsequently adds andsubtracts a value of the record set into the intermediate buffer byusing the correction value of the past correction data expressed by thetime-series operation metadata, using the time-series operation unit 351at the step S67, sets the corrected value into the intermediate buffer,sets the contents of the intermediate buffer into the output bufferdeveloped in the memory 100 at the step S68, and outputs the contents ofthe output buffer into the database at the step S69. It is to be notedthat the time-series operation processing unit 170 develops the multipleoutput buffers in the memory 100 in a case of outputting the multiplesets of the output data, and transforms the data into the output data instructure by establishing associations between the intermediate bufferand the multiple output buffers based on the data structuretransformation metadata using the data structure transformation unit352.

At the step S70, the time-series operation processing unit 170 executesa process from the step S66 to the step S69 for the records up to thenearest date, and repeats the process from the step S63.

On the other hand, the time-series operation processing unit 170 shiftsthe process to the step S71 in a case of making a judgment at the stepS65 that the input data are not defined as the past correction data, andmakes a judgment using the time-series operation unit 351 as tonecessity of the comparison operation, the past data setting, or thelike, based on the time-series operation metadata.

Herein, the time-series operation processing unit 170 shifts the processto the step S72 in a case of making a judgment at the step S71 that thecomparison operation, the past data setting, or the like is notnecessary, and outputs the contents of the output buffer to the databaseat the step S77 after setting the contents of the input buffer into theoutput buffer, thereby repeating the process from the step S63. Inaddition, the time-series operation processing nit 170 develops themultiple output buffers in the memory 100 in a case of outputting themultiple sets of the output data, and transforms the data into theoutput data in structure by establishing associations between theintermediate buffer and the multiple output buffers based on the datastructure transformation metadata using the data structuretransformation unit 352.

On the other hand, the time-series operation processing unit 170 shiftsthe process to the step S73 in a case of making a judgment at the stepS71 that the comparison operation, the past data setting, or the like isnecessary. The time-series operation processing unit 170 executes, usingthe time-series operation processing unit 351, the comparison operationand/or the past data setting based on the time-series operation metadataafter setting the input contents of the input buffer into theintermediate buffer.

That is, the time-series operation processing unit 170 calculates, usingthe time-series operation unit 351, the comparison value that is equalto a difference between values of the input data and the past data atthe step S74, thereby setting the comparison value into the intermediatebuffer. On the other hand, the time-series operation processing unit 170acquires the past data using the time-series operation unit 351 at thestep S75 to set this value into the intermediate buffer in a case ofimplementing the past data setting.

After setting the contents of the intermediate buffer into the outputbuffer at the step S76, the time-series operation processing unit 170then outputs the contents of the output buffer to the database at thestep S77, thereby repeating the process from the step S63. In addition,the time-series operation processing unit 170 develops the multipleoutput buffers in the memory 100 in a case of outputting the multiplesets of the output data, and transforms the data into the output data instructure by establishing associations between the intermediate bufferand the multiple output buffers based on the data structuretransformation metadata using the data structure transformation unit352.

The time-series operation processing unit 170 can implement thetime-series operation process by executing a series of procedural stepsas described above.

That is, the time-series operation processing unit 170 develops variousmetadata in the memory 100 upon acquisition of these metadata from therepository 30 where the start instruction of the batch process is inputthrough the display and operation unit 50 and the group operationprocess is started as a process to be subsequently started under thecontrol of the process management operating unit 60. The time-seriesoperation processing unit 170 reads the record necessary for the inputdata in the input buffer based on the input and output informationmetadata, in accordance with an input order of the data as a processingobject, and thereafter sets the necessary data items in the intermediatedata from the input buffer.

Where executing the past data setting based on the past time point andthe data item name of the value to be set, expressed by the time-seriesoperation metadata, in accordance with the past data setting order, thetime-series operation processing unit 170 sets the result of the pastdata setting into the intermediate buffer. Further, where executing thepast data correction based on the past time point and the data item nameof the value to be corrected, expressed by the time-series operationmetadata, in accordance with a past data correction order, thetime-series operation processing unit 170 sets the result of the pastdata correction into the intermediate buffer.

According to reception of the setting order to the output buffer, thetime-series operation processing unit 170 sets the contents of theintermediate buffer into the output buffer based on the data structuretransformation metadata, thereby writing the contents of the outputbuffer in the intermediate data or the multiple sets of the output dataclassified by objective to update those data at every change of themanagement unit, based on the time series holding period defined as aperiod to be held as the time-series data expressed by the time-seriesoperation metadata, and the input and output information metadata, whiledeleting the record that exceeded the time-series holding period.

As described above, the time-series operation processing unit 170 canexecute the time-series operation process based on various metadata.

In the batch processing apparatus, various metadata necessary for eachoperational step are produced, thereby being able to flexibly executeeach operational step based on those various metadata.

In addition, in the batch processing apparatus, data dictionary metadatafor managing the data item name in the aforementioned metadata ofvarious types or user's view information metadata for managing a user'sview of the output are not illustrated in the figures especially, butproduced and registered in the repository 30 prior to execution of eachof the procedural steps. The batch processing apparatus therefore canproduce various metadata, thereby being able to create the output dataaccording to the user's view.

Finally, a case for creating the aforementioned summary data is givenand explained as a specific process example for the purpose ofspecifying a processing image of the aforementioned batch processingapparatus. Herein, a user specification to be raised is explained first,and a detailed example of the metadata required according to the userspecification is explained next.

First, the input data are under the specifications shown in FIG. 17Athrough FIG. 17C.

In other words, the input data includes the branch office table, asshown in FIG. 17A, configured with information concerning a branchoffice number, a branch office name, a branch office address, a branchoffice type, the East Japan display, the West Japan display, or thelike, the customer table, as shown in FIG. 17B, configured withinformation concerning a customer number, a branch office number, aname, an address, an area code, an industrial classification code, acompany size code, a contract date, or the like, and the transactiontable, as shown in FIG. 17C, configured with information concerning atransaction number, a customer number, a product code, a transactioncode, a transaction money amount, an account day, or the like. Thebranch office table and the customer table of those tables areassociated with each other by the branch office number while thecustomer table and the transaction table are associated with each otherby the customer number.

Next, the user's view is defined as the “daily branch office-specificsummary about business service A” configured with two specificationsshown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, and those summary data are output as afile.

That is, the first user view with user's view number “1”, which will bedescribed later, is defined as a cross-tabulation table having as rowitems, the manufacturing industry, the primary industry, the secondaryindustry, the tertiary industry, large companies in Tokyo, medium andsmall companies, and an inclusive sum, and having as column items, atransaction money amount, transactions a through c money amount,transactions d and e money amount, a type-A product transaction amount,and a service charge of type-B product. Furthermore, the first user'sview has headings such as, a date, a branch office number, and a branchoffice name. The first user's view is to be output branch office bybranch office. In the first user's view, calculation of “servicecharge=transaction money amount×0.05” is performed as a calculationitem, and a branch office is output under condition that a branch officetype of a service shop is extracted. Furthermore, 30 days of the data ofthe first user's view are held as the time-series data. In other words,the aforementioned time-series holding period is defined as 30 days withrespect to the first user's view.

As shown in FIG. 19, the second user view is defined as across-tabulation table having as row items, product 1, product 2,product 3, product 4, product 5, medium and small companies, and aninclusive sum, and having as column items, a transaction money amountfrom 0 to 5,000,000 yen, a transaction money amount from 5,000,000 yento 10,000,000 yen, a transaction money amount more than 10,000,000 yen,a previous day's transaction money amount, and a comparison of theprevious day's transaction money with that of the end of previous month.The second user's view has such headings as, a date, a branch officenumber, and a branch office name. The second user's view is to be outputbranch office by branch office. In the second user's view, a branchoffice is output under the condition that a branch office type of aservice shop is extracted. Furthermore, the aforementioned time-seriesholding period is defined as 30 days with respect to the second user'sview.

Next, a relation between each code (category) and a category hierarchyfollows specifications shown in FIG. 20 through FIG. 25.

First, an industrial classification code follows a specification asshown in FIG. 20. That is, formed as the industrial classification codeis each of categories of the agricultural industry, the forest industry,the fishing industry, the aquaculture industry, the general industrialmachine manufacturing industry, the precision machine manufacturingindustry, ∘∘manufacturing industry, a food product, xxxx, a bank, afinancing service, and ΔΔΔ. The fishing industry and the aquacultureindustry of those are contained in the category hierarchy of the marineindustry. The agriculture industry, the forest industry, the fishingindustry, and the aquaculture industry are contained in the categoryhierarchy of the primary industry. The general industrial machinemanufacturing industry, the precision machine manufacturing industry,∘∘manufacturing industry, a food product, and xxxx are contained in thecategory hierarchy of the secondary industry. A bank, a financingservice, and ΔΔΔ are contained in the category hierarchy of the tertiaryindustry.

Furthermore, an area code follows a specification shown in FIG. 21. Thatis, formed as an area code is each of categories of Hokkaido, . . . ,Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, . . . , Okinawa, in which only Tokyo iscontained in the category hierarchy of Tokyo.

Furthermore, a product code follows a specification shown in FIG. 22.That is, formed as a product code are the product 1, the product 2, theproduct 3, the product 4, and the product 5, in which the product 1, theproduct 2, the product 3, and the product 4 of those are contained inthe category hierarchy of type-A product while the product 4 and theproduct 5 are contained in the category hierarchy of type-B product.

Furthermore, a transaction code follows a specification shown in FIG.23. That is, formed as a transaction code are the transaction a, thetransaction b, the transaction c, the transaction d, and the transactione, in which the transaction a, the transaction b, and the transaction care contained in the category hierarchy of “transactions a through c”,while the transaction d and the transaction e are contained in thecategory hierarchy of “transactions d and e”.

A company size code follows a specification shown in FIG. 24. That is,formed as large companies, medium companies, and small companies, inwhich the large companies of those are contained in the categoryhierarchy of the large companies while the medium companies and thesmall companies are contained in the category hierarchy of the mediumand small companies.

Furthermore, a money amount hierarchy code follows a specification shownin FIG. 25. That is, formed as the money amount hierarchy code is eachcategory of money amount from 0 to 5,000,000 yen, money amount from5,000,000 yen to 10,000,000 yen, and money amount more than 10,000,000yen. The money amount from 0 to 5,000,000 yen is contained in thecategory hierarchy of “money amount from 0 to 5,000,000 yen. The moneyamount from 5,000,000 yen to 10,000,000 yen is contained in the categoryhierarchy of “money amount from 5,000,000 yen to 10,000,000 yen”. Themoney amount more than 10,000,000 yen is contained in the categoryhierarchy of “money amount more than 10,000,000 yen”. In addition, themoney amount hierarchy code is created upon judgment based on thetransaction money amount.

Next, a shop table for performing the parent-child display follows aspecification shown in FIG. 26.

That is, in the shop table, branch office numbers 001, 002, 003, 004,and 005 are respectively assigned to Sapporo branch office, Sendaibranch office, Tokyo branch office, Osaka branch office, and Fukuokabranch office, and the flag is set such that Sapporo branch office,Sendai branch office, and Tokyo branch office correspond to the branchoffice to which the East Japan display is used, while Osaka branchoffice and Fukuoka branch office correspond the branch office to whichthe West Japan display is used. As a user's view, a judgment is made asto the area display, other than a value of each branch office, i.e., asto the East Japan display or the West Japan display, which is notillustrated, and the value indicating summation of the East Japandisplay is output as the branch office number 100 whereas the valueindicating summation of the West Japan display is output as the branchoffice number 101.

Furthermore, other specifications concerning the handling of the pastcorrection against the held time-series data are necessary. There issuch a specification for the holding of time-series that corrects thetime-series data according to a case where the past transaction moneyamount is corrected with respect to the transaction on the transactionspecification, that is, a case where the account day is a date in thepast.

The metadata produced with the metadata input unit 20 according to theaforementioned specification and registered in the repository 30 arestructured in a manner as described hereinafter.

The aforementioned metadata concerning the data item name are explainedfirst. It is to be noted that the metadata correspond to the datadictionary metadata as mentioned above.

In particular, registered as the metadata of this type in the repositoryare the general attribute information, the classifying attributeinformation, the category information, and category hierarchyinformation, as shown in FIG. 27A through FIG. 27D.

Set as the general attribute information are the data item namesindicating the data items not holding the code values such as the branchoffice number, the customer name and the like, the phonetic charactersfor the data item names, and various other information, as shown in FIG.27A. Set as the classifying attribute information are the data itemnames indicating data items holding the code items such as the productcode, the industrial classification code, and the like, the phoneticcharacters for the data item names, and various other information, asshown in FIG. 27B. As shown in FIG. 27C, set as the category informationare the classifying attribute names indicating the codes such as theproduct code, the industrial classification code, and the like, thecategory names for classifying those classifying attribute names intothe categories such as the product 1, the product 2, the agriculturalindustry, the manufacturing industry, and so on, the phonetic charactersfor the code item names, the code values for the category names, andvarious other information. Furthermore, set as the category hierarchyinformation are, as shown in FIG. 27D, the classifying attribute names,the category names, the category hierarchy names for classifying thosecategory names into the hierarchies such as the type-A product, theprimary industry, and the like, respectively, and various otherinformation.

In the batch processing apparatus, the metadata having theaforementioned contents are created with the metadata input unit 20 andregistered in the repository 30, as the metadata concerning the dataitem name.

The aforementioned metadata concerning the input and the output areexplained next. It is to be noted that the metadata of this typecorrespond to the aforementioned input and output information metadata.In particular, the file list, the schema about the file, the managementunit, the list of files used in each process, and the relation list offiles used in each process are registered in the repository 30, as shownin FIG. 28A through 28E.

Set as the file list are the business service classifications indicatingthe classifications of the business service previously set, such as thebusiness service A, the table names indicating the names of tablesdefined as a file as the input data, such as the branch office table,the customer table, and the transaction table, and the medium typeindicating the type of medium in which the file is stored, as shown inFIG. 28A. Other than those, information on the DDL (Data DefinitionLanguage) of various types necessary for control of the relationaldatabase, and the like are not illustrated but set in the repository 30.Set as the schema about the files are the business serviceclassifications, the table names, the column names expressing a name ofa column such as the branch number, the data attribute that representsthe attributes of the data, the data length that represents the length,and various other information as shown in FIG. 28B. Set as themanagement unit are the business service classifications, the managementunit names indicating the names of the management units previously set,such as the branch office, the corresponding files indicating the filessuch as the branch office table corresponding to this management unit,multiple column names as a primary key (PK), and other information ofvarious, as shown in FIG. 28C. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 28D, thebusiness classifications, the cycles indicating the cycleclassifications previously set, such as the date and the like, themanagement units, the specification/summary indicating eitherclassification that the specific data are created or that the summarydata are created, the input files indicating the file as the input datasuch as the branch office tables, the customer tables, the transactiontables, and the like, and other information of various types are set asthe list of the files used in each process. As shown in FIG. 28E, thebusiness service classifications, the cycles, the management units, thespecification/summary, the file indicating the file to be used, themultiple column names as the primary key, and the multiple column namesas the foreign key (FK) are set as the relation list of the files usedin each process.

In the batch processing apparatus, the metadata having theaforementioned contents are produced with the metadata input unit 20using the data item names previously shown in FIG. 27A and FIG. 27B,thereby being registered in the repository 30. Herein, the input andoutput information metadata about the intermediate file used internallyor the output file of the user's view as a final target are produced atthe same time of creation of the interface metadata, the calculationarea metadata, and the data structure transformation metadata asdescribed later, based on other input and output information metadata onthe input file already defined, the user's view information metadata,and the like. In addition, on the condition that two types of user'sviews previously shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are defined as “the dailybranch office-specific summary about the business service ∘∘”, in FIG.28 a through FIG. 28 E “the business service ∘∘”, “the data”, “thebranch office”, and “the summary” are set to the business serviceclassification, the cycle, the management unit, and thespecification/summary, respectively.

Explained next is the metadata concerning “the user's view as a targetto be output”, which is one of the metadata concerning “the output”. Itis to be noted that the metadata of this type correspond to theaforementioned user's view information metadata.

As shown in FIG. 29A through FIG. 29D, the data structure of the user'sview, i.e., the structure of the output data to be actually output asthe data, is registered in the repository 30. To be more specific, thename of the user's view, the heading items of the user's view, the rowitems of the user's view, and the column items of the user's view areregistered as the metadata concerning “the user's view as a target to beoutput” in the repository 30.

Set as the names of the user's view are the business serviceclassification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the user's view name, the user's view number, thetime-series holding period, and other information of various types, asshown in FIG. 29A. Furthermore, set as the heading items of the user'sview are, as shown in FIG. 29B, the business service classification, thecycle, the management unit, the specification/summary, the user's viewnumber, the attribute name indicating the attributes such as the date,the branch office number, the branch office name, and the like, andother information of various types. As shown in FIG. 29C, the businessservice classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the user's view number, the general attributename indicating values such as the transaction money amount or the like,the classifying attribute name, the category name, and other informationof various types are set as the row items of the user's view.Furthermore, set as the column items of the user's view are the businessservice classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the user's view number, the classifying attributename, the category name, and other information of various types, asshown in FIG. 29D.

In the batch processing apparatus, as the metadata concerning “theoutput objective of the user's view”, the metadata configured with thecontents as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B are produced with the metadatainput unit 20, using the data item names previously shown in FIGS. 27Aand 27B, thereby being registered in the repository 30. The batchprocess therefore can create and output the output data with the desiredstructure.

The aforementioned metadata concerning “the processing operationcontents” are explained next.

The metadata as shown in FIG. 30A through FIG. 34D are concretelyregistered as the metadata of this type in the repository 30.

The extraction condition metadata, the code conversion metadata, and thederivation operation metadata (including the category operation basedderivation operation metadata and the group operation based derivationoperation metadata) are registered as the metadata concerning “theprocessing operation contents” in the repository 30, as shown in FIG.30A through FIG. 30C, to follow the specifications of two types of theuser's view previously shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19.

To be more specific, the business service classification, the cycle, themanagement unit, the specification/summary, the predetermined extractioncondition expression, and other information of various types are set asthe extraction condition metadata, as shown in FIG. 30A. As theextraction condition expression of those, a condition expression such as“a branch office type=a service shop display” is set in order to extractthe branch office from the type of service shop.

Furthermore, the business service classification, the cycle, themanagement unit, the specification/summary, the general attribute name,the pre-converted classifying attribute/code indicating thepre-converted classifying attribute and/or the pre-converted code value,the converted classifying attribute/code indicating the convertedclassifying attribute and/or the converted code value, the rangealteration for altering the code value to a predetermined range, andother information of various types, are set as the code conversionmetadata as shown in FIG. 30B. As the converted classifyingattribute/code of those, the money amount hierarchy codes are set to“from 0 to 5,000,000 yen”, “from 5,000,000 yen to 10,000,000 yen”, and“more than 10,000,000 yen”, respectively. Correspondingly, as the rangealternation, a less-than sign display of numeric values such as “0<,<500”, “500<, <1,000”, “<1,000” is set.

Furthermore, set as the derivation operation metadata are the businessservice classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the operation unit item indicating operationunit, the aggregation unit item indicating the aggregation unit, thepredetermined condition expression, the predetermined derivationoperation expression, and other information of various types, as shownin FIG. 30C. As the derivation operation expression of those, anoperation expression such as “the service charge=transaction moneyamount×0.05” is set.

In the batch processing apparatus, the metadata having theaforementioned contents are created as the metadata concerning “theprocessing operation contents” by the metadata input unit 20, using thedata item names shown in FIG. 27A and FIG. 27B, thereby being registeredin the repository 30. The batch processing apparatus therefore canperform the desired code conversion and the derivation operation uponextraction of the input data based on the predetermined extractioncondition.

Furthermore, the group operation metadata corresponding to theclassification display as shown in FIG. 31 are registered as themetadata concerning “the processing operation contents” in therepository 30 to correspond the specification set in the shop tablepreviously shown in FIG. 26. That is, the group operation metadatacorresponding to this classification display are set in a manner thatthe sum of the branch offices contained in the East Japan and the sum ofthe branch offices contained in the West Japan are calculated to outputeach of the calculated results as the East Japan shop with the branchoffice number of “100” or as the West Japan shop with the branch officenumber of “101”, according to the East Japan display and the West Japandisplay set in the shop table shown in FIG. 26.

Concretely speaking, set as the group operation metadata are thebusiness service classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the display data item name expressing the displaydata item such as, e.g., the East Japan display or the West Japandisplay, the set data item name expressing the set data item such as,e.g., the branch office number or the like, the set value indicating thevalue corresponding to this set data item name, the set contentsindicating the specific set contents, and other information of varioustypes, as shown in FIG. 31.

In the batch processing apparatus, the metadata having theaforementioned contents are produced by the metadata input unit 20,using the data item name previously shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, therebybeing registered in the repository 30. In this way, the group operationprocess can be executed in the batch processing apparatus.

In addition, a case where the information having the parent-childrelationship exists in the input data is used as a supplementary exampledifferent from the group operation in accordance with the aforementionedspecification examples. In other words, the input data consist of thecustomer table configured with the information concerning the customernumber, the name, the parent-customer number, the group number, themoney amount, and the like, as shown in FIG. 32A, and the grouprepresentative customer table configured with the information concerningthe representative customer number, the group number, and the like, asshown in FIG. 32B. The output data are defined as the customer-specificsummary configured with the customer number, the parent-childclassification, the money amount, and the like, as shown in FIG. 32C.With respect to the parent-child classification in the output data, thevalue record of the customer only is set to “0”; the total value recordbased on the parent-child relationship of the customer number is set to“1”; and the total value record based on the group number is set to “2”.

In this case, the group operation metadata corresponding to theparent-child relationship such as shown in FIG. 33 are registered as themetadata concerning “the processing operation contents” in therepository 30. That is, the group operation metadata corresponding tothe parent-child relationship are set to output the customer-specificsummary based on the information having the parent-child relationship ina case of the existence of the parent-child relationship in the inputdata, and also to perform the first group operation based on theparent-customer number existing in the customer table as the input dataas well as the second group operation based on the group number existingin the customer table.

To be more specific, set as the group operation metadata are, as shownin FIG. 33, the business classification, the cycle, the management unit,the specification/summary, the parent-item name indicating theparent-item such as, e.g., the parent-customer number or the like, thechild-item name indicating the child item such as, e.g., the customernumber, the group item name indicating the group item such as, e.g., thegroup number or the like, the parent-child classification item name, andother information of various types. Herein, with respect to theparent-child classification item name, the parent-child classificationis set to “0” in a case of the single value record, set to “1” in a caseof the total value record based on the parent-child relationship, andset to “2” in a case of the total value record based on the groupnumber.

In the batch processing apparatus, in a case of the existence of theinformation having the parent-child relationship in the input data, themetadata having the aforementioned contents are produced as the metadataconcerning “the processing operation contents” by the metadata inputunit 20, using the data item name previously shown in FIG. 27A and FIG.27B, thereby being registered in the repository 30 in order to performthe group operation. The batch processing apparatus therefore canperform the group operation in a case of the existence of theparent-child relationship in the input data.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 34A through FIG. 34D, the time-seriesoperation metadata for calculating a previous day's transaction moneyamount and a comparison of the previous day's transaction money withthat of the end of previous month are registered as the metadataconcerning “the processing operation contents” to correspond to thespecification of the user's view previously shown in FIG. 19. Preparedas the time-series operation metadata are the past data acquisitioninformation indicating the past correction data to be acquired, such asthe time point for data acquisition, the value item, and the like, theterm indicating the time point expressed as a factor of the data itemname of the output data and a comparison, i.e., the comparison valueoperation information indicating the operation of the value to becompared, the past data correction information indicating the method forcorrecting the data into the past time-series data in a case of theinput data defined as the past correction data, and the time-seriesholding period information indicating the time-series holding period.

Concretely speaking, set as the past data acquisition information in thetime-series operation metadata are, as shown in FIG. 34A, the businessservice classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the time point classification indicating the timepoint in a range of the data to be acquired, the value item nameindicating the value, and other information of various types. Withrespect to the time point classification of those, the time point is setto “the previous day” to acquire the date until the previous day. Withrespect to the value item name, such a value as “the transaction moneyamount” is set.

As shown in FIG. 34B, set as the comparison value operation informationin the time-series operation metadata are the business serviceclassification, the cycle, the management unit, the specific/summary,the time point classification, the comparison classification indicatingthe compared target, the value item name, and other information ofvarious types. With respect to the contrast classification of those,such a value as “the comparison with the end of previous month” is set.

Furthermore, set as the past data correction information in thetime-series operation metadata are, as shown in FIG. 34C, the businessservice classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the correction classification indicating thecorrection method, the value item name, and other information of varioustypes. With respect to the correction classification, such a correctionmethod as “the retroactive correction” is set to perform the correctionex post facto.

Furthermore, set as the time-series holding period information in thetime-series operation metadata are, as shown in FIG. 34D, the businessservice classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the holding period indicating the time-seriesholding period, and other information of various types. With respect tothe holding period of those, the period of “30 days” is set to hold thedata of 30 days as the time-series data.

As the metadata concerning “the processing operation contents”, themetadata having the aforementioned contents that are produced by themetadata input unit 20, thereby being registered in the repository 30 sothat the batch processing apparatus can perform the time-seriesoperation. The batch processing apparatus therefore can hold thetime-series holding period, i.e., 30 days of the time-series datapreviously shown in FIG. 29A so that the held time-series data reflectsthe past correction data of the transaction money amount.

Next, shown in FIG. 35A through FIG. 36B are the specific examples ofthe metadata produced based on the various metadata shown in FIG. 28Athrough 28E, FIG. 29A through 29D, FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, FIG. 31,and FIG. 34A through FIG. 34D.

To be more specific, the interface metadata indicating the layouts ofthe input buffer temporally storing the data in each process, theintermediate buffer, and the output buffer, the calculation areametadata indicating the classifying attribute information and the valueitem information of the calculation area used by the summary operationprocessing unit 150 ₁, and the data structure transformation metadataindicating the relation of the link between the buffer and the outputbuffer are produced as the metadata produced in the aforementionedprocedural steps, and thereby registered in the repository 30, as shownin FIG. 35A through FIG. 36B.

Concretely speaking, set as the interface metadata are, as shown in FIG.35A, the business service classification, the cycle, the managementunit, the specification/summary, the task detail indicating the detailof the task to be executed, the processing operation contents indicatingthe specific detail of the process to be executed in the task, the dataitem name, and other information of various types. Such a detailconcerning “the category operation (the summary operation)”, “the groupoperation”, or “the time-series operation” is set as the task detail ofthose, whereas such a detail concerning “the input” or “conditionjudgment” is set as the processing operation contents.

Furthermore, set as the calculation area metadata indicating theclassifying attribute information of the calculation buffer are, asshown in FIG. 35B, the business service classification, the cycle, themanagement unit, the specification/summary, the classifying attributename, the category name, the set number indicating the row number of thecalculation buffer to be output, the calculation area metadataindicating the value item information of the calculation buffer to bedescribed later, and other information of various types.

Furthermore, set as the calculation area metadata indicating the valueitem information of the calculation buffer are, as shown in FIG. 36A,the business service classification, the cycle, the management unit, thespecification/summary, the value item number, the value item name, andother various information.

Yet further, set as the data structure transformation metadata are, asshown in FIG. 36B, the business service classification, the cycle, themanagement unit, the specification/summary, the set number, the valueitem number, the user's view number, the column number, the row number,and other information of various types.

Based on the various metadata preliminarily registered in the repository30, the metadata having the aforementioned contents are produced underthe production instruction by the metadata input unit 20, and arethereby registered in the repository 30 in the batch processingapparatus. In the batch processing apparatus, furthermore, the input andoutput information metadata about the intermediate file internally usedor the output file of the user's view as the final target are producedby the metadata input unit 20 at the time of the production of theaforementioned metadata, thereby being registered in the repository 30,as described above.

In the batch processing apparatus, various metadata shown in FIG. 27Athrough 36B are registered in the repository 30, and the process foreach of the category operation (the summary operation), the groupoperation, and the time-series operation is produced based on theaforementioned various metadata, to create the network of the process,indicating the start order of the arbitrary processes. The batchprocessing apparatus creates the desired output data by giving the startinstruction of the batch process through the process managementoperating unit 60.

To be more specific, the batch processing apparatus executes thecategory operation (the summary operation process) using the summaryoperation processing unit 150 ₁ to create the single first intermediatetable as the intermediate data in a case where the branch office table,the customer table, and the transaction table such as previously shownin FIG. 17A through FIG. 17C are input as the input data, as shown bythe process flow in FIG. 37.

Concretely speaking, the first intermediate table is configured with theinformation concerning the date, the branch office number, theindustrial classification code, the area code, the company size code,the transaction code, the product code, the money amount hierarchy code,the transaction money amount, and the service charge, as shown in FIG.38.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 37, the batch processing apparatusexecutes the group operation using the group operation processing unit160 on the condition that the first intermediate table shown in FIG. 38is set to the input data, so as to create the single second intermediatetable as the intermediate data.

The second intermediate table, as shown specifically in FIG. 39, isconfigured with the information reflecting the result of the groupoperation with respect to the same items as that of the firstintermediate table.

As shown in FIG. 37, the batch processing apparatus executes thetime-series operation using the time-series operation processing unit170 on the condition that the second intermediate table shown in FIG. 39is set as the input data, to create the first output table and thesecond output table as the desired output data corresponding to twospecifications of the user's view previously shown in FIG. 18 and FIG.19.

To be more specific, the first output table is configured with theinformation concerning the date, the branch office number, theindustrial classification code, the area code, the company size code,the transaction money amount, the transaction money amounts a through c,the transaction money amounts d and e, the transaction money amount ofthe type-A product, and the type-B product service charge, as shown inFIG. 40.

In other words, the first output table is such that the multiple recordsare summarized in the single table on the condition that thecross-tabulation table previously shown as the first user's view in FIG.18 is created as a single record for each of the industrialclassification code, the area code, and the company size code branchoffice by branch office. In addition, with respect to the first outputtable, the date, the branch office number, and the branch office name asthe heading of the first user's view are set for each of the records.

The second output table is configured with the information concerningthe date, the branch office number, the product code, the company sizecode, the transaction money amount from 0 to 5,000,000 yen, atransaction money amount from 5,000,000 yen to 10,000,000 yen, atransaction money amount more than 10,000,000 yen, a previous day'stransaction money amount, and a comparison of the previous day'stransaction money with that of the end of previous month, asspecifically shown in FIG. 41. That is, the second output table is suchthat the multiple records are summarized in the single table on thecondition that the cross-tabulation table previously shown as the seconduser's view in FIG. 19 is created for both the product code and thecompany size code. With respect to the second output table also, it isto be noted that the date, the branch office number, and the branchoffice name as the heading of the second user's view are set in each ofthe records.

In the batch processing apparatus, as described above, various metadatashown in FIG. 27A through FIG. 34D are created by the metadata inputunit 20, in accordance with the specifications shown in FIG. 17A throughFIG. 26, and registered in the repository 30, so that the batchprocessing apparatus can create and output two output tables shown inFIG. 40 and FIG. 41. Since the process is executed based on themetadata, the batch processing apparatus can deal with such a case wheremultiple specifications are required for the output data, thereby beingable to create the output data configured with multiple differentspecifications at once.

It is to be noted that specification described above is that such ascreating “daily branch office-specific summary about business service A”but there is no difference with respect to the creation of the specificdata based on the other specifications, in that the batch processingapparatus creates the metadata corresponding to the appropriatespecification and executes each process based on the aforementionedmetadata.

As described above, the batch processing apparatus as the embodiment ofthis invention previously registers the necessary metadata of varioustypes, and creates the output data by processing the input data based onthe declaration process of the metadata, so that the management of themetadata is unified and the structure of the output data is determinedbased on the combination of the multiple sets of metadata. Therefore,all of the output data related to the aforementioned metadata areproperly affected by the change of the metadata, thereby being able tobe automatically changed by the change of the metadata only.

The batch processing apparatus thus can promote improvement in theproduct efficiency and quality retention. Furthermore, with the batchprocessing apparatus, a burden on a system designer, a systemadministrator, and an operator operating the system can be remarkablyreduced since the non-programming approach or the metadata approachrenders certain operational management such as the system design or theprogram development, the document management, the library management,and the like unnecessary at all, so that the batch processing apparatuscan establish remarkable reduction in the future development cost.

Furthermore, the batch processing apparatus operates by defining thebusiness service specification, and thus has no trouble in performanceresulting from the development of a new program, thereby being able toretain the quality. The batch processing apparatus operates based on themetadata, thereby being able to constantly keep compatibility betweenthe output name and the output data, and the like.

The batch processing apparatus enables people conducting the processusing the batch processing apparatus to share their knowledge or toexclude personal knowledge as well as enabling people to share knowledgecompany-wide and to easily browse knowledge contents regardless of theagent or time. The batch processing apparatus, furthermore, wipes outprogramming by the user, thereby enabling the reduction of the staffcost, the deskwork cost, and the like.

Furthermore, not only can the batch processing apparatus respond to theuser needs immediately, but it can also run a simulation on a realsystem immediately as well as spirally even in a case where the outputinformation necessary for the new business service needs is required, sothat improvement in productivity or new discovery at the stage ofbusiness project can be achieved.

The batch processing apparatus can produce the process flow, theintermediate data, and the like automatically, thereby being able topreclude a so-called process jumble or data jumble.

As described above, the batch processing apparatus can provide thesystem designer, the system administrator, and the operator withexcessive convenience.

It is to be noted that this invention is not limited to theabove-described embodiment in which the batch processing apparatus isexplained as if it is configured with a single computer or the like, butthis invention can be applied to a case of a batch processing systemestablished by connecting the multiple computers to one another throughthe network or the like.

That is, as the batch processing system, the display and operation unit10 and/or the metadata input unit 20 may be configured with a singlecomputer to be connected to the repository 30 on the condition that aside for the system designer, the system administrator, and the like areseparated from a side for the operator while the operation processingunit 40 may be configured with a single computer or the like as thebatch processing apparatus to be connected to the repository 30. As thebatch processing apparatus, the display and operation unit 50 and theprocess management operating unit 60 may be configured with a singlecomputer or the like to be connected to a computer or the like as theoperation processing unit 40 through the network or the like. Asdescribed above, this invention can provide various services withimprovement in convenience by setting the batch processing apparatus tobe a distributed environment type.

As described above, this invention can be arbitrarily modified withoutdeparting from the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A batch processing apparatus for creating desiredoutput data based on arbitrary input data comprising: a metadataacquisition section for acquiring from a predetermined memorizingsection, metadata being defined as information concerning at least dataitem name, input, processing operation content, and output, as well asinformation previously stored in the memorizing section; a data inputsection for inputting the input data based on a declaration process ofthe metadata acquired through the metadata acquisition section, the datainput section including a display monitor; a processing section forcreating the output data by processing the input data input through thedata input section, based on the declaration process of the metadataacquired through the metadata acquisition section; and a data outputsection for outputting the output data created by the processingsection, based on the declaration process of the metadata acquiredthrough the metadata acquisition section, wherein the processing sectionincludes a summary operation processing section for performing a summaryoperation process produced in a case of creation of summary data, aspecific operation processing section for performing a specificoperation process produced in a case of creation of specific data, agroup operation processing section for performing a group operationprocess, defined as a group calculation with respect to a parent-childrelationship existing in the input data, and a time-series operationprocessing section for performing a time-series operation process forupdating time-series data, wherein the processing section newly producesinformation indicating a process flow of a batch process necessary tocreate objective output data, information indicating a content ofintermediate data created at each process, and information concerning alink between the input and output data at each process as metadata uponprocess execution to register in the memorizing section, where themetadata previously registered in the memorizing section are stored in apredetermined memory, where the output data created by both or either ofthe summary operation process and the specification operation processare used as input data of the group operation process for each ofbusiness service unit, processing cycle, management unit, andspecification/summary classification, where the output data created bythe group operation process is used as input data of the time-seriesoperation process, and where both or either of the summary operationprocess and the specific operation process, the group operation process,and the time-series operation process are formed into a serial processflow, and wherein the processing section starts both or either of thesummary operating processing section and the specific operationprocessing section based on an execution sequence of each processaccording to the executing process defined by the metadata upon theprocess execution registered in the memorizing section, to its runningtiming, and to the process flow to execute each process, and, where bothor either of the group operation metadata and the time-series operationmetadata exists, the processing section starts each process to executeboth or either of the group operation processing section and thetime-series operation processing section by using output data created atthe other processing section as input data and thereby to produce theobjective output data.
 2. The batch processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the metadata expresses a data item of the input data, aformat of the input data, a category expressed with a code in a case ofthe data item having the code, a category hierarchy configured with acombination of the categories, a data item of the output data, a formatof the output data, a management unit for expressing an output unit ofthe output data with the data item as a factor, an extraction conditionexpression expressed with data item of the input data as a factor, aderivation operation expression for expressing the output data derivedbased on the data item of the input data, a code conversion content anda code conversion method for converting a value of the data item of theinput data into a code of the output data, the data item of the inputdata and a calculation method for identifying the parent-childrelationship for the group operation on the parent-child relationship, aterm indicating comparison with a time point expressed as a factor ofthe data item name of the output data to be output in the time-seriesoperation, and/or a method for correcting past time-series in a case ofthe input data being past correction data.
 3. The batch processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metadata express at leastone of a process flow of the batch process, a content of intermediatedata created in each process, and a link between the input data and theoutput data in each process.
 4. The batch processing apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein the metadata expresses a data item of the inputdata, a format of the input data, a category expressed with a code in acase of the data item having the code, a category hierarchy configuredwith a combination of the categories, a data item of the output data, aformat of the output data, a management unit for expressing an outputunit of the output data with the data item as a factor, an extractioncondition expression expressed with data item of the input data as afactor, a derivation operation expression for expressing the output dataderived based on the data item of the input data, a code conversioncontent and a code conversion method for converting a value of the dataitem of the input data into a code of the output data, the data item ofthe input data and a calculation method for identifying the parent-childrelationship for the group operation on the parent-child relationship, aterm indicating comparison with a time point expressed as a factor ofthe data item name of the output data to be output in the time-seriesoperation, and/or a method for correcting past time-series in a case ofthe input data being past correction data.
 5. The batch processingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the metadata express at leastone of a process flow of the batch process, a content of intermediatedata created in each process, and a link between the input data and theoutput data in each process.
 6. A batch processing method for creatingdesired output data based on arbitrary input data comprising: a metadataacquisition step for using a metadata acquisition section to acquiremetadata from a predetermined memorizing section, metadata being definedas information concerning at least data item name, input, a processingoperation content, and output, as well as information previously storedin the memorizing section; a data input step for using a data inputsection to input the input data based on a declaration process of themetadata acquired at the metadata acquisition step, the data inputsection including a display monitor; a processing step for using aprocessing section to create the output data by processing the inputdata input at the data input step, based on the declaration process ofthe metadata acquired at the metadata acquisition step; and a dataoutput step for using a data output section to output the output datacreated at the processing step, based on the declaration process of themetadata acquired at the metadata acquisition step, wherein in theprocessing step, the processing section includes a summary operationprocessing step for rendering a summary operation processing sectionperform a summary operation process produced in a case of creation ofsummary data, a specific operation processing step for rendering aspecific operation processing section perform a specific operationprocess produced in a case of creation of specific data, a groupoperation processing step for rendering a group operation processingsection perform a group operation process, defined as a groupcalculation with respect to a parent-child relationship existing in theinput data, and a time-series operation processing step for executing atime-series operation process for updating time-series data via atime-series operation processing section, wherein in the processingstep, the processing section newly produces information indicating aprocess flow of the batch process necessary to create objective outputdata, information indicating a content of the intermediate data createdat each process, and information concerning a link between the input andoutput data at each process as metadata upon process execution toregister in the memorizing section, where the metadata previouslyregistered in the memorizing section are stored in a predeterminedmemory, where the output data created by both or either of the summaryoperation process and the specification operation process are used asinput data of the group operation process for each of business serviceunit, processing cycle, management unit, and specification/summaryclassification, where the output data created by the group operationprocess is used as input data of the time-series operation process, andwhere both or either of the summary operation process and the specificoperation process, the group operation process, and the time-seriesoperation process are formed into a serial process flow, and wherein inthe processing step, the processing section starts both or either of thesummary operating processing section and the specific operationprocessing section based on an execution sequence of each processaccording to the executing process defined by the metadata upon theprocess execution registered in the memorizing section, to its runningtiming, and to the process flow to execute each process, and, where bothor either of the group operation metadata and the time-series operationmetadata exists, the processing section starts each process to executeboth or either of the group operation processing section and thetime-series operation processing section by using output data created atthe other processing section as input data and thereby to produce theobjective output data.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium that stores a set of instructions for a batch processing programwhich, when executed by a computer, performs a method for creatingdesired output data based on arbitrary input data, said methodcomprising: a metadata acquisition process for using a metadataacquisition section to acquire from a predetermined memorizing section,metadata defined as information concerning at least data item name,input, a processing operation content, and output, as well asinformation previously stored in the memorizing section; a data inputprocess for using a data input section to input the input data based ona declaration process of the metadata acquired in the metadataacquisition process; a processing process for using a processing sectionto create the output data by processing the input data input in the datainput process, based on the declaration process of the metadata acquiredin the metadata acquisition process; and a data output process for usinga data output section to output the output data created in theprocessing process, based on the declaration process of the metadataacquired in the metadata acquisition process, wherein the processingsection functions as a summary operation processing section forperforming a summary operation process produced in a case of creation ofsummary data, a specific operation processing section for performing aspecific operation process produced in a case of creation of specificdata, a group operation processing section for performing a groupoperation process, defined as a group calculation with respect to aparent-child relationship existing in the input data, and a time-seriesoperation processing section for performing a time-series operationprocess for updating time-series data, wherein the processing sectionnewly produces information indicating a process flow of the batchprocess necessary to create objective output data, informationindicating a content of intermediate data created at each process, andinformation concerning a link between the input and output data at eachprocess as metadata upon process execution to register in the memorizingsection, where the metadata previously registered in the memorizingsection are stored in a predetermined memory, where the output datacreated by both or either of the summary operation process and thespecification operation process are used as input data of the groupoperation process for each of business service unit, processing cycle,management unit, and specification/summary classification, where theoutput data created by the group operation process is used as input dataof the time-series operation process, and where both or either of thesummary operation process and the specific operation process, the groupoperation process, and the time-series operation process are formed intoa serial process flow and wherein the processing section starts both oreither of the summary operating processing section and the specificoperation processing section based on an execution sequence of eachprocess according to the executing process defined by the metadata uponthe process execution registered in the memorizing section, to itsrunning timing, and to the process flow to execute each process, and,where both or either of the group operation metadata and the time-seriesoperation metadata exists, the processing section starts each process toexecute both or either of the group operation processing section and thetime-series operation processing section by using output data created atthe other processing section as input data and thereby to produce theobjective output data.